Dubai: A Dubai court sentenced a woman to one month imprisonment and subsequent deportation from the UAE after she shared a video of her five-year-old relative’s daughter on the social media platform Snapchat without the permission of the child’s parents. The court's ruling underscores the importance of UAE laws protecting children’s privacy and safety. The video, recorded during a family gathering, was posted on the woman’s Snapchat account without the consent of the child’s parents or legal guardians. It was reported that over 11,000 people viewed the publicly accessible video. Upon noticing the incident, the child’s father approached authorities and filed a complaint.
The video had been recorded on the woman’s mobile phone during a family event where relatives had come together. Without seeking approval from the parents or legal guardians, she uploaded the video to Snapchat. Once made publicly available, numerous individuals viewed the content. The child’s father alleged that the child’s privacy was violated and that the circulation of the video could adversely impact the child’s mental well-being. In response, authorities initiated an investigation and took legal action against the woman.
The case was examined under provisions of the UAE’s Federal Decree Law No. 34 of 2021 on the Prevention of Cybercrimes and Rumours. This legislation includes measures to protect individuals’ privacy and to regulate the unauthorized dissemination of private information and imagery via electronic media. Additionally, the 2016 Federal Law No. 3, known as Wadeema’s Law, which safeguards children’s rights, physical and mental safety, dignity, and privacy, was cited during proceedings.
The court reportedly found that making the video publicly accessible without permission violated privacy-related legal provisions. During the trial, the defense questioned allegations concerning the public nature of the Snapchat account and the circumstances surrounding the video’s publication. However, after reviewing the evidence and the context of the video sharing, the court rejected the defense’s arguments.
Subsequently, the court sentenced the woman to one month imprisonment and ordered her deportation from the UAE upon completion of her sentence. The ruling conveys the clear message that family ties alone do not grant anyone the authority to post children’s images or videos on social media without explicit consent.
Attending a family function or public event does not imply consent for the public dissemination of children’s pictures or videos on the internet. Especially on social media platforms accessible to the general public, shared content can quickly reach very large audiences. Even if a video is later removed, copies may be saved or circulated further by others.
The UAE enforces strict laws to protect individual privacy and children's rights. Unauthorized sharing of images or videos may result in legal consequences depending on the circumstances. Legal implications should not be overlooked, even if content shared among family members is intended as humor or affection.
It is imperative to ensure parental or legal guardian consent before sharing children’s pictures or videos on social media. This court ruling serves as a reminder of the necessity to safeguard children’s privacy and security in the digital age.
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Original Malayalam report: Malayalam Daily News
