UAE: Up to Dh500,000 fine for taking someone's photo without consent

Taking photos of people without their consent — as well as sharing and saving these images — is an invasion of their privacy, an offence punishable in the UAE by a fine of up to Dh500,000 and imprisonment, the country’s prosecutors have warned.

The Federal Public Prosecution on Monday posted a video on their social medial accounts, reminding residents of the country’s cybercrime law. Whoever uses a computer network or any other technology to expose a person and violate his or her privacy shall face a jail term of at least six months and pay a fine of not less than Dh150,000 and not exceeding Dh500,000, or either of the two penalties.

According to Article 21 of the Federal Decree Law No. 5 of 2012 on Combatting Cybercrimes, the ways in which one may invade others’ privacy include: interception, recording, eavesdropping, transferring, transmitting or disclosure of conversations or communications, or audio or visual materials.

Officials stressed that this also covers taking snaps of people without their consent or creating, transferring, disclosing, copying or saving their photos.

Prosecutors said that within the same law, a one-year jail term and a fine of Dh250,000 to Dh500,000 shall be meted out to whomever uses information systems and tech to alter or process a record, photo or scene to attack, malign or humiliate another person.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com

Ismail Sebugwaawo

A professional journalist originating from Kampala, Uganda, Ismail is a happy father with strong attachment to family and great values for humanity. He has practiced journalism in UAE for the past 13 years, covering the country's parliament (FNC) and crimes, including Abu Dhabi Police, public prosecution and courts. He also reports about important issues in education, public health and the environment, with a keen interest in human interest stories. When out of reporting duties, he serves the Ugandan community in Abu Dhabi as he wants to see his countrymen happy. Exercising and reading are part of his free time.