Motorist who filmed Dubai assault could face jail and a fine

Prosecution sources say the man could face two years in jail and a Dh20,000 fine if convicted of showing a person’s face or giving away his identity without his permission, and defaming the person.

DUBAI // The motorist who stopped to film the assault on the roadside in Deira this week was breaking the law.

A 1987 law was amended in 2005 to define capturing or recording audio or images through any type of device in a public or private area as an “assault on the sanctity of an individual or family’s private life”.

To do so without the consent of the law or the victim is punishable by imprisonment and a fine.

But there is a loophole: if the recording is made in an open manner, “where those in attendance can see or hear that they are being recorded”, their consent is presumed.

This law can also be applied to anyone who publishes the secrets of a person or family, even if the information is correct.

The law says publishing such content is punishable “by imprisonment for a period of at least one year and a fine not less Dh250,000, and not in excess of Dh500,000”.

In all cases, police officers are entitled to confiscate all devices used in the crime and destroy all recordings.

Prosecution sources say the man filming in this case could face two years in jail and a Dh20,000 fine if convicted of showing a person’s face or giving away his identity without his permission, and defaming the person.

He could face a further six months for abusing the privacy of a person and taking pictures or video without permission and posting them on the internet.

With additonal reporting by Salam Al Amir