The Abu Dhabi Family Court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has issued a verdict against a young man who illicitly gained access to a girl’s social media accounts. As reported by Arab media outlets, the court has imposed a fine on the young man for his actions, further stipulating that he must compensate the victim with an amount of 2,000 dirhams. In addition to the fine, the court has mandated the accused to bear the expenses related to the legal proceedings, including court costs and lawyer’s fees.
According to the report, the incident occurred when the girl approached the court to file a complaint against the young man who had hacked into her email and social media accounts, subsequently altering the passwords and assuming control over her online presence. In her petition, the girl asserted that this unauthorized intrusion had resulted in significant financial, moral, and social harm. Consequently, she sought compensation in the form of one lakh dirhams, along with 12 percent profit and reimbursement for the court-related expenses.
After thoroughly examining the case, the Abu Dhabi Family Court ruled that the young man was liable to pay the girl a sum of 2,000 dirhams as compensation, in addition to covering the associated court costs and lawyer’s fees. The court’s decision was based on the fact that the petitioner had previously lodged a complaint against the defendant with relevant authorities, emphasizing that hacking into another individual’s social media account and changing its password without consent is in violation of the law.
In its judgment, the court firmly stated that the unauthorized access and tampering with someone’s social media account are unlawful acts. Consequently, the court underscored the importance of protecting individuals’ privacy and personal digital space. The verdict ultimately underscored the defendant’s responsibility to compensate the victim, in light of the demonstrated harm inflicted.
