Questions & Answers
Taking photos and publishing them without permission
I am living with my family in a villa of 10 houses. I was cleaning my car in front of the villa, one of my neighbors took a picture of me with my wife and shared it with all the neighbors telling them not to clean cars outside the villa.
My wife is from Pakistan; she wears a hijab and covers her face all the time. This picture humiliates me and my wife in front of every neighbor.
Can I file a case against this man who took the picture without permission and humiliated my wife?
Is there any law in UAE, Abu Dhabi that can support me?
Dear Questioner
Yes, you can file a criminal complaint against the offender.
Posting a photograph on any social media platform without the consent of the person who is present in the photograph constitutes an offense in the United Arab Emirates in accordance with Article 21 (2) and (3) of the Federal Law No. 5 of 2012 on Combating Cybercrimes (the ‘Cyber Law’), which states:
“(The offender) shall be punished by imprisonment of a period of at least six months and a fine not less than Dh150,000 and not in excess of Dh500,000 or either of these two penalties whoever uses a computer network or and electronic information system or any information technology means for the invasion of privacy of another person in other than the cases allowed by the law and by any of the following ways:
(a) Photographing others or creating, transferring, disclosing, copying, or saving electronic photos.
(b) Publishing news, electronic photos or photographs, scenes, comments, statements, or information even if true and correct.
Please contact us via phone or email for assistance in this regard.
Regards,
