In the UAE, the act of revealing secrets is considered a serious offense, and individuals found guilty may face substantial fines starting from at least Dh150,000. The Abu Dhabi Judicial Authority (ADJD) shed light on the anti-rumors and cybercrime law, specifically Article 44 of Federal Decree Law No. 34 of 2021, which is designed to safeguard people’s privacy.
In the era of widespread accessibility to smart technologies, the UAE law emphasizes the importance of respecting residents’ personal space and boundaries. The ADJD, in its awareness campaign, underlines that recording or sharing conversations, capturing and storing pictures of individuals without their consent is strictly prohibited.
The UAE maintains a zero-tolerance approach towards privacy breaches, and a range of actions fall under these violations, subjecting offenders to fines ranging from at least Dh150,000 to Dh500,000 and/or imprisonment for a minimum of six months. These actions include sharing news, images, comments, or private information about a person without their consent, even if the content is authentic. Additionally, recording, broadcasting, or disclosing conversations and audio-visual materials about a person, taking unauthorized photos of the injured, deceased, or accident victims and publishing them, and tracking a person’s GPS location are all considered offenses.
The ADJD emphasizes that penalties can be heightened to a minimum of one year in jail and/or fines ranging from Dh250,000 to Dh500,000 if a voice note, photo, or scene is altered to defame or offend another person. The stringent measures underscore the UAE’s commitment to safeguarding individuals’ privacy and maintaining the integrity of personal information in the age of advanced technology.