ABU DHABI // Three students who captured a classmate in a video selfie on Instagram did not mean to post images of him without consent, the Appeals Court heard on Sunday.
The three Emiratis were capturing a video selfie at their dormitory when a classmate passed by in the background.
After the video was published on Instagram, he accused them of posting his photo without his consent and accused them of verbally insulting him.
He said they made offensive comments against him with the video.
The three denied the accusation, arguing they did not mean to capture him, claiming he happened to pass by behind them and the video only lasted a few seconds.
Their defence attorney said his clients did not have any criminal intention because the identity of the man was not revealed in the video. Only his shoulder was showing as he passed behind them, they claimed.
He added that the First Instance verdict which found them guilty was invalid, as the judge who heard the case was not the same judge who issued the ruling.
Moreover, the plaintiff was said to have withdrawn his complaint before the trial.
The defendants were cleared of the verbal insult charge in the First Instance Court.
The appeals verdict will be announced on April 19.
hdajani@thenational.ae
