What seemed like a simple family joke has ended in serious legal trouble. A woman took a video of her five-year-old relative joking about food and mispronouncing its name at a family gathering, drawing laughter from people nearby.
She posted the clip on her public Snapchat account, where it quickly blew up and attracted more than 11,000 views before spreading across other platforms. When the little girl's father found out, he was alarmed about her privacy and mental wellbeing, promptly lodging a complaint with authorities.
Strict charges under cybercrime and child protection laws
Prosecutors pressed charges under Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combating Rumours and Cybercrimes as well as Federal Law No. 3 of 2016 on Child Rights, popularly called Wadeema’s Law.
The woman was accused of sharing footage of a child online without proper authorisation and exposing the minor to bullying that could harm her psychological safety.
“A child smiling or laughing in front of a camera does not mean they have consented to having their photograph or video shared publicly”Bin Suweidan
Court rejects public account excuse
In court, the woman confessed to recording and posting the clip but denied having any intention to bully the child. She claimed that because her Snapchat account was public, the video went viral beyond her control.
The court dismissed her defence, ruling that lack of bad intent does not excuse unauthorised publication. Pointing to police records and her confession, the court handed down a one-month jail sentence alongside deportation from the UAE.
Legal warning for social media users
Lawyer Rashid Bin Suwaidan, of Bin Suwaidan Advocates and Legal Consultants, noted that this ruling serves as a stern reminder. He stressed that legal liability also covers anyone circulating, reposting, or sharing such footage.
He explained that permission to record someone does not grant the right to publish it online, comparing it to photographing a car where showing the registration plate publicly remains unauthorised without clear consent.
