UAE court: Consumers can film violations and report them
Sharjah: A consumer who filmed insects inside a supermarket product and sent the footage to the relevant authorities was later prosecuted for defamation after the supermarket filed a complaint against him over the recording. The case ultimately reached the UAE’s Federal Supreme Court, which overturned his conviction and established an important judicial principle: documenting suspected violations…
A consumer in Sharjah filmed insects in a supermarket product and sent the footage to authorities, leading to criminal charges for defamation. The case reached the UAE's Federal Supreme Court, which ruled that documenting suspected violations and reporting them to competent authorities does not constitute a crime in itself. The court emphasized that recording a video alone is not enough for a criminal offence; prosecutors must prove criminal intent, such as bad faith or a deliberate intention to harm or damage someone's reputation.
Legal consultant Mohammed Ali Al Hammadi explained that the ruling clarifies the distinction between reporting a suspected violation and filming with the intention of defaming or harming others. The act of documenting a violation does not automatically amount to a crime; the focus is on the intention behind the recording and the purpose for which the footage is used.
Consumers should consider their intention, purpose, and the authority to which they submit the evidence when recording and sharing suspected violations.
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