DUBAI- A recent court case in the UAE is a reminder that sharing someone’s photo on social media — even that of a family member — without their consent can land you in serious legal trouble.
What happened?
A 27-year-old Indian resident was convicted and fined Dh3,000 after he posted photos of a female relative on his social media account, accompanied by abusive and defamatory comments targeting her character and reputation. The court also found that he had done the same to her father — uploading his photo alongside similarly insulting remarks.
The woman, who is married to one of the defendant’s relatives, said the posts caused her severe embarrassment and humiliation, particularly because they were visible to family members and others online. Neither she nor her father had given him permission to use their photographs.
How was he caught?
She reported the incident to the police, and authorities assigned electronic evidence experts to examine the defendant’s social media account. The experts retrieved the posts and documented the offensive content as part of the formal case file.
What did the defendant say?
He denied posting the content and claimed the woman herself had taken his phone, used a password she allegedly knew, and uploaded the photos and comments herself. The court found this explanation unconvincing and rejected the defence based on the victim’s testimony and the forensic evidence report.
What’s the legal takeaway for UAE residents?
Under UAE law, posting someone’s image online without their consent — especially alongside offensive remarks — can constitute both defamation and a privacy violation. The country has strict cybercrime legislation that covers online insults, character attacks, and the unauthorised sharing of personal photos, regardless of whether the person pictured is a stranger or a relative.
The court did note mitigating circumstances and showed leniency, which is why the penalty was a fine rather than a custodial sentence. But the conviction itself stands as a clear warning.
The bottom line: Think before you post. Even within families, sharing someone’s photo without permission — let alone pairing it with insults — crosses a legal line in the UAE