An Abu Dhabi court has ordered a social media influencer to pay a total of Dh81,000 after finding her liable for defaming a restaurant owner through a video posted online.
The case was featured by the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department as part of its “Stories and Lessons” awareness campaign, which aims to educate the public on the legal consequences of actions taken on digital platforms.
According to the Judicial Department, the influencer recorded a video of a well-known restaurant and published remarks that questioned the integrity of the owner and the management of the establishment, rather than providing a review of its food or services.
The restaurant owner filed a complaint, arguing that the video went beyond fair criticism and caused significant damage to both his personal reputation and business.
During the investigation, the influencer admitted to filming the restaurant and uploading the video through her personal social media account. She claimed that her post was merely criticism.
However, investigators found that the content did not constitute objective evaluation but instead amounted to insult and defamation under UAE laws governing the misuse of technology, as it targeted the owner personally rather than the restaurant’s products or services.
The court found the influencer guilty and imposed a Dh30,000 fine. It also ordered the deletion of the video and the confiscation of the mobile phone used to record and publish the content.
In addition, the court awarded the restaurant owner Dh51,000 in temporary civil compensation.
With the criminal penalty and civil damages combined, the influencer was ordered to pay a total of Dh81,000, underscoring the legal consequences of defamatory content shared on social media.
