Can I take legal action over a WhatsApp video using my nickname to defame me?

Hello,

Pursuant to Federal Decree-Law No. (34) of 2021 on Combating Rumours and Cybercrimes, any person who publishes, circulates, or re-circulates content via information technology means that includes insult, slander, defamation, or attribution of facts capable of harming another’s honour or reputation commits a criminal offence.

Article (43) Defamation and Slander

"Whoever uses an information network, ITE, or an information system and insults another or attributes a quality to him that would make that person subject to punishment or contempt by third parties shall be punished with imprisonment and/ or a fine of not less than (AED 250,000) two hundred fifty thousand dirhams or more than (AED 500,000) five hundred thousand dirhams.

In the event that any of the offences abovementioned in Para. (I) of this Article is committed against a public official or a person entrusted with a public service during or because of performance of his work, that shall be deemed an aggravating circumstance of the crime."

Article (44) Revealing Secrets and Invasion of Privacy

"Whoever uses an information network, an IS, or any ITE with the intention of invading the privacy or sanctity of private or familial life of someone without his consent in cases other than those authorized by law through committing any of the following actions shall be punished with imprisonment for at least (6) six months and/ or a fine of not less than (AED 150,000) one hundred fifty thousand dirhams or more than (AED 500,000) fiver hundred thousand dirhams:

1. Eavesdropping, intercepting, recording, transmitting, broadcasting, or revealing conversations, communications or audio or visual materials.
2. Taking photos of third parties in any public or private place, or preparing, transferring, disclosing, copying or keeping electronic photos.
3. Publishing news, electronic photos, images, scenes, comments, data or information, even if it is true and genuine, with intention of harming the person.
4. Taking, transmitting, or publishing photos of the injured, the dead, or the victims of accidents or disasters without permission or consent of the parties concerned.
5. Tracking, monitoring, revealing, transmitting, disclosing, copying or keeping the geographic location data of third parties.

Moreover, whoever uses an IS or ITE to modify or process any record, photo or scene with the intention of defaming or insulting another person shall be punished with imprisonment for at least one year and/ or a fine of not less than (AED 250,000) two hundred fifty thousand dirhams or more than (AED 500,000) five hundred thousand dirhams."

Accordingly, if you are located in Dubai, you are legally entitled to file a cybercrime complaint directly through the Smart Police Station (SPS), where the matter will be formally registered and investigated by the competent authorities, including technical examination of the content, the circulation method, and the identity of the publisher. Upon confirmation of the offence, the case may be referred to the Public Prosecution, and you may also reserve your right to claim civil compensation for moral and material damages resulting from the defamatory content.

Greetings from Dr. Khalifa Bin Huwaiden Advocates & Legal Consultants.

Even if your real name is not used, you may have legal rights if the content clearly identifies you or damages your reputation. Under UAE Penal Code (Articles 372–373) and Civil Code, this can be treated as defamation or libel, including via social media or messaging apps. You can:

1. File a complaint with the police or cybercrime authorities for defamation.
2. Request removal of the content and demand a public apology.
3. Claim damages if your reputation, career, or personal life is harmed.

The key is to show that the audience could reasonably identify you from the nickname or resemblance.

For more information, please contact us during our official working hours from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Greetings,

Under UAE law, defamation does not require your full legal name to be mentioned. If a video circulated on WhatsApp uses a nickname, translated name, or any reference that clearly points to you, and this causes harm to your reputation, dignity, or standing, you may have legal grounds to take action, even if your name is not stated directly.

If it can be proven that:

• The content is defamatory or insulting, and
• People can reasonably identify that the reference is to you,

then the act may fall under criminal and/or cybercrime defamation laws in the UAE, especially when shared via social media or messaging platforms.

Each case depends on the content, intent, reach of the video, and evidence linking the reference to you.

To properly assess your legal position and the available remedies, we recommend booking a legal consultation or appointing our office to act on your behalf.

Book a consultation with FUTURE VISION ADVOCATES & LEGAL CONSULTANCY to receive tailored legal advice and take the appropriate legal steps.

Under UAE law, it is not a requirement for defamation or insult that the person’s full or direct name be mentioned. It is sufficient that the person can be identified through a nickname, an equivalent or similar name, or any clear indication from which others can reasonably understand who is being referred to. Therefore, using a translated or analogous name does not negate legal liability if it effectively links the defamatory content to the person concerned.

Circulating a video via WhatsApp that contains defamatory or insulting content may constitute a criminal offense if it harms reputation or personal standing. In such cases, the affected person has the legal right to file a criminal complaint against the publisher or distributor of the content, as well as to claim civil compensation for moral and reputational damage, provided that the identification and harm can be established from the context.

The strongest evidence includes WhatsApp messages from people saying:

• “Are you the one in the video?”
• Or “Why are they talking about you?”

For assistance in filing an online report, please contact us by phone or WhatsApp.

You may take legal action against the individual who has offended or harmed you, as this conduct constitutes defamation under applicable laws.

Please feel free to contact us should you wish to receive further details or legal guidance.

Under UAE law, you have the right to take legal action for defamation if a video circulated on WhatsApp indirectly identifies you—such as by using your nickname, a translated version of your name (e.g., “Friday” for “Juma”), or other identifiers—provided it reasonably leads others to recognize you and harms your reputation.

Defamation does not require your full legal name to be mentioned; what matters is whether viewers can link the content to you and whether the material contains false statements, insults, or allegations that damage your honor or standing. Such acts may constitute offenses under the UAE Penal Code and Cybercrime laws. You may file a complaint with the police or Public Prosecution, submit the video as evidence, and seek criminal action and/or civil compensation for moral damages.

Using a nickname or indirect reference does not shield the offender if the content effectively points to you and causes reputational damage. These cases depend heavily on context and evidence, and must be handled carefully to avoid procedural issues.

Our office has experience in online defamation and cybercrime matters and can assess whether the content legally identifies you and advise on the strongest course of action.

Dear Sir/Madam,

In light of the information provided in your inquiry, and in order to properly assess whether the circulated WhatsApp video constitutes a legally actionable case of defamation, we will need to review the video itself and all related evidence, including any messages, chats, or surrounding context showing that the nickname or resemblance used clearly refers to you and has caused harm to your reputation, and to verify whether the content identifies you, even indirectly, and damages your reputation & if such linkage and harm are established, the matter may constitute a criminal offense under UAE law, and it may also give rise to a civil claim for compensation for the moral and reputational damages suffered.

This statement constitutes a preliminary, non-binding legal consultation based on the information provided, and a final legal position can only be determined after reviewing the actual material and evidence. We remain pleased to offer our assistance at any subsequent stage, including evaluating the evidence, initiating formal legal action, and representing you before the competent authorities.

Please feel free to contact us.

Ahmed Harb Law Firm – AE

Dear Questioner

If the context is clear and it can be concluded that you are the person meant by whatever is said, and the context of the conversation would be clearly insulting or undermining you, then you may file a criminal petition for the crime of "insult via technological means". The matter should be reported within a maximum of 3 months since you came to know of the incident, and the sooner the better, so we highly recommend you consult a professional with more details as soon as possible.

For more information and advice, please contact us.

You have more than one legal route, and your rights do not depend only on whether your exact name is used. If the nickname or “resemblance name” is enough for people in your circle to identify you, the harm can still be treated as defamation and unlawful reputational damage, especially when circulated on WhatsApp. We previously handled a partially similar matter where the person avoided the real name but used an obvious alias, and we achieved a positive result for our client once we proved identifiability and intent.

The silent risk is that WhatsApp forwards spread fast and create “private-but-public” harm, while the other side’s expected defense is “I did not mention him” or “it’s just a story.” Our office strategy is to secure evidence properly and build identification proof: keep the original video file, capture the chat context, note who forwarded it and any messages linking it to you, and collect statements from people who understood it referred to you. Then we choose the most effective path: a formal legal warning to stop circulation and demand deletion, and if needed, an official complaint to preserve digital evidence and pursue accountability. Do not respond with threats in the same group; that can be used against you.

To advise precisely, we need the video, the exact wording used, and whether the sender is in the UAE and identifiable.

This response is provided by Rashid Al Kaitoob Advocates & Legal Consultants based solely on the information you’ve provided and does not constitute a final legal opinion. A binding legal assessment can only be given after reviewing the full documents of the case.

Dear Questioner,

Under UAE law, you have the right to protect your reputation and personal dignity, even if a video or post does not directly mention your full name but uses a nickname, pseudonym, or any reference that clearly identifies you. The use of such references in a manner that harms your reputation or associates you with false or controversial statements can be considered defamation under UAE Cyber Crimes Law and the Penal Code.

Your legal rights include:

• Filing a complaint with the authorities: You can report the defaming video to the Dubai Police Cyber Crimes Unit or the relevant authorities, providing evidence of the video and its circulation.
• Demanding removal of the content: UAE law allows you to request the removal of online content that harms your reputation.
• Claiming compensation: You may be entitled to file a civil claim for material or moral damages caused by defamation.
• Criminal prosecution: If the video constitutes a criminal offense under UAE law, the person responsible may face fines, imprisonment, or both.

Process under UAE law:

• Gather evidence (screenshots, forwarded messages, or recordings of the video).
• File a formal complaint with the Cyber Crimes Unit or local police.
• Authorities may investigate and summon the person responsible.
• Legal proceedings may follow, including claims for removal and compensation.

This process can be complex and time-consuming, especially in proving that the reference clearly identifies you and causes reputational harm.

If you anticipate difficulty managing the legal process, we can proceed on your behalf to handle all aspects: collecting evidence, filing the complaint, following up with authorities, and pursuing civil or criminal remedies.

Please let me know if you would like us to take full action on your behalf.

Kind regards,

Mohammad Salah, Senior Legal Advisor