Whether you are an expat or not, uploading photos of other people without their permission is illegal in the UAE – this includes photos of your employers and their family.
A 29-year-old maid in Ajman was sentenced to six months in jail to be followed by immediate deportation after uploading photos of her Emirati employer’s family on Facebook, reported Al Bayan.
The maid uploaded photos of her Emirati employer’s mother and children without permission and posted them with an insulting caption.
Aside from uploading the photos, several images on the maid’s Facebook account show that she was also wearing clothes of her employer’s wife without permission.
In her defense, the maid said that she did not steal the clothes but rather borrowed them while her employer’s wife was on trip overseas.
What the law says
Technically, it is not illegal to share a photo of another person online. The thin line that separates what is illegal or not is consent.
In the UAE, those who are caught filming or sharing images of other people without their consent may face fine ranging from Dh150,000 (Php2,170,918) to Dh500,000 (Php 7,236,394).
The violator will also face jailterm of at least six months, depending on the degree of the offense.
The intent behind posting the photo is also not considered. Even if the photo is as innocent as a selfie, uploading other people’s photos is considered as breaching of their privacy.
The law also covers filming of other people in public areas such as parks, malls, etc.
