# Abu Dhabi Court Penalizes Identity Theft on Social Media A man was ordered to pay compensation for impersonating a minor online. - **Source:** [Emarat Al Youm](https://www.emaratalyoum.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-12 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/ea0f99ce-99fd-44a7-a0a4-35cca889ee7a ## Court Ruling on Impersonation The Abu Dhabi Family and Civil and Administrative Claims Court ordered a young man to pay 20,000 dirhams in moral damages. The defendant was found guilty of creating a fake social media account using the identity and photos of a minor girl to initiate conversations with other young men online. ## Criminal Conviction Precedes Lawsuit The civil judgment follows a prior criminal conviction where the defendant received a two-month suspended prison sentence and a 20,000 dirham fine. The court mandated the permanent deletion of all stolen images and the closure of the associated email and social media accounts used to facilitate the illegal impersonation scheme. ## Legal Basis for Compensation The plaintiff, acting as the legal guardian of the minor, initially sought 51,000 dirhams in damages. The court established that the criminal verdict holds authority in civil proceedings, confirming the defendant's liability for the harm caused by his deliberate actions, which violated the victim's privacy and personal digital security. ## Nature of Psychological Harm The court highlighted that the defendant's actions caused significant psychological distress, including fear, anxiety, and social embarrassment for the minor. The ruling emphasized that the victim suffered deep emotional pain and sorrow due to the unauthorized use of her likeness, which directly damaged her reputation and that of her family. ## Evidence of Intentional Misconduct During the proceedings, the defendant admitted to copying the victim's photos from social media platforms to create the fraudulent profile. The court noted that this behavior demonstrated a clear lack of awareness regarding the legal consequences of digital harassment and the severe impact such actions have on the victim's personal life. ## Judicial Reasoning on Liability The court determined that the defendant's actions constituted a direct infringement on the sanctity of private life. By maintaining the fake account and distributing the victim's images, the defendant committed a punishable error that necessitated financial compensation to address the moral and psychological injury inflicted upon the minor and her family. ## Scope of Legal Responsibility The ruling confirms that individuals are legally accountable for the digital footprint they create, especially when it involves identity theft. The court rejected the defendant's request to dismiss the lawsuit, reaffirming that the intersection of criminal and civil law ensures victims receive redress for damages caused by malicious online activities. ## Impact of Digital Privacy Laws This case underscores the strict enforcement of privacy laws in the UAE regarding digital impersonation. By awarding compensation, the judiciary sends a strong message about the consequences of violating personal privacy. Such rulings serve as a deterrent against the misuse of social media platforms to harm or exploit others' identities. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.emaratalyoum.com/local-section/accidents/2026-11-12-1.2102020 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._