Abu Dhabi Woman Fined Dh50,000 for Posting Instagram Photo Without Consent

A woman in Abu Dhabi has been ordered to pay Dh50,000 ($13,600) after being found guilty of violating another woman’s privacy by posting her photograph on Instagram without consent.

The Abu Dhabi Family, Civil and Administrative Cases Court ruled that the defendant had unlawfully used information technology to publish the image without approval, outside the circumstances permitted by law.

Court records show the claimant had sought Dh100,000 in compensation for material and moral damages, citing psychological distress, reputational harm, and social embarrassment. She also requested legal interest and reimbursement of legal costs.

This civil ruling followed a criminal case in which the defendant was convicted, fined Dh50,000, ordered to delete the images, and barred from using online networks for three months.

The court noted that the unauthorised post caused proven moral harm by infringing on the claimant’s privacy and personal dignity. It emphasised that the publication exposed the claimant to psychological pain and social embarrassment, amplified by social media’s wide reach.

Financial compensation, the court said, must reflect the seriousness of the act and the harm caused. Dh50,000 was deemed fair and proportionate, adequately addressing the confirmed moral damage and breach of privacy.

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