'Posting photos of deceased online is a criminal offence with fines up to Dh500K'

Families in the UAE say they are deeply upset after finding photos of their deceased relatives shared on social media without permission. This has added to their grief and emotional pain.

- Azza Al Ali

Emarat Al Youm reported several cases in which families found images of accident scenes, sometimes showing bloodstains, damaged belongings, or the deceased in their final moments, circulating on WhatsApp and public platforms long before all relatives were even informed of the death.

There's a growing concern over the ease with which sensitive visuals, photographs from gravesides, funerals, accident scenes, or hospital emergency rooms are posted and reshared online, often without the knowledge or consent of the family.

One mother said she was heartbroken to see graphic photos of her child's fatal accident shared widely without any consideration for the family's emotional turmoil. Legal experts interviewed by the newspaper stressed that such actions not only violate dignity and privacy but can also interfere with official investigations and deepen the trauma of loss.

Legal and psychological professionals in the UAE warn that sharing images of the deceased, accident victims, or mourning families online is not only unethical, but also a criminal offence that can lead to imprisonment, heavy fines, and other penalties.

Diana Hamade, lawyer and legal consultant and founder of Diana Hamade Attorneys at Law, said that publishing images of deceased persons without permission is a clear violation of UAE law. Citing Federal Decree Law No. 34 of 2021 on Cybercrime, she explained that the legislation is intended to protect both the public and the bereaved from content that may cause fear, distress or emotional harm. The law prohibits posting images of individuals without their consent or in the case of those who have died the consent of their next of kin.