Microsoft became the first big tech company in the world to introduce the middle finger emoji in its operating system, so in Windows 10 for PCs and phones, you should be able to flip the finger at someone on Skype or emails.

But doing this in the UAE could land you in prison because flicking the middle finger at anyone living the country is illegal and is punished with up to three years in jail and hefty fines.

UAE legal experts told 7daysindubai that, in addition to the standard laws that apply to all citizens in the country, there is also cyber-crime legislation that forbids everyone from flipping the finger at someone because this can be considered offensive.

“Sending a middle finger emoji on a smartphone or even sending a middle finger picture through email can put you in trouble. It’s an insult in the UAE and the law can punish you with either jail of up to three years or a fine of up to Dhs500,000 [$135.000 / €121.500],” a local lawyer was quoted as saying.

A complaint is mandatory

The good news is that you won’t be arrested the minute after you send the middle finger emoji on Skype. To land you in jail, someone needs to file a complaint at the police against you and prove that you are the person who flicked the finger at them.

Needless to say, smartphone, tablet, and PC users are recommended to think twice before sending such an emoticon on social networks or instant messengers because local legislation is very strict when it comes to insulting someone either face to face or online.

Everyone would land in court if such content were being used to insult someone on the Internet, experts warn, so maybe Microsoft had better offer an option to disable such emoticons upon installation of the new operating system to make sure that no one gets in trouble.