Individual compensated Dhs20,000 for appearing in video shared without his consent in Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi Family, Civil, and Administrative Cases Court has mandated an individual to pay Dhs20,000 as compensation for recording and sharing a video of another person on TikTok and Snapchat without his approval. This video was posted with comments that tarnished the complainant’s reputation, adversely affecting his personal and professional life, as well as his income.

During the legal proceedings, the plaintiff requested Dhs450,000 in compensation for the various damages he suffered, including material, moral, psychological, and social impacts. He also asked for legal interest at a rate of 5% per annum from the date of the final judgment until full payment, along with the recovery of legal fees, court costs, and attorney’s expenses. There was also a request for the immediate execution of the judgment. The complainant provided evidence including earlier court rulings and documentation of the offensive comments and video shared online.

The plaintiff’s case was bolstered by a previous criminal conviction that fined the defendant Dhs50,000 and resulted in the confiscation of his mobile phone, a decision upheld on appeal. The court stated that "moral damage" includes anything that harms an individual’s honor or causes emotional distress. Since recording and sharing the footage without consent breached the complainant's privacy and reputation while causing psychological harm, the court found that Dhs20,000 was suitable compensation after considering the nature of the act, the platforms used, and its consequences.