You may end up in jail for violating someone’s privacy in UAE

By Nilanjan Dey

The UAE Public Prosecution office recently gave a fresh reminder out to the people on infringement of privacy, stating that it is a punishable offense for which the guilty can have to pay a fine of up to AED 500,000 or can even be jailed for at least 6 months.

In an Instagram post, UAE Public prosecution has highlighted the activities that constitute an invasion of privacy.

Below are the acts that can be seen as Acts of privacy infringement:

• Eavesdropping, intervention in, or the recording, transferring, broadcasting, or divulgence of talking, communications, or audio or visual materials

• Taking photos of others at any public or private place, or the preparation of electronic photos, or transferring, revealing, copying, or keeping the same

• Publication of news, electronic photos, photographs, scenes, comments, data, or information, even if real and true, in order to cause harm to a person

• Taking photos of the wounded, the dead, or the victims of accidents or disasters, and the transfer or publication without a permit of consent from the concerned party

The punishment for using an information network, an electronic information system, or a means of information technology to infringe on a person’s privacy or the sanctity of an individual’s private or family life without their consent and in other than legally permitted cases is a fine ranging from AED150,00 to AED500,000 and up to 6 months in jail.

If materials obtained from an electronic information system or a means of information technology are altered or manipulated for the objective of using it against another person will get higher sentencing of either jail time not below a year and a fine in the range of AED250,00 to AED500,000.