Ajman appeal court fines social media influencer Dh30,000 for cyber defamation on Snapchat

The Ajman Federal Appeal Court has convicted a 48-year-old Gulf national social media influencer of cyber defamation after ruling that she used Snapchat to publish defamatory content intended to harm the reputation and marital stability of her former friend.

In a verdict issued on February 4, 2026, the court found the defendant guilty of insult and defamation through information technology, in violation of Federal Decree Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combatting Rumors and Cybercrimes. The court imposed a fine of Dh30,000, ordered the confiscation of the mobile phone used to commit the offense, directed the deletion of all defamatory material under the supervision of the Public Prosecution, and obligated the defendant to pay court fees.

The complainant was represented by lawyer Mohammed Al Awami of Al Awami Al Mansoori Law Firm and Legal Consultancy. In his submissions, Al Awami argued that the offense constituted a continuing cybercrime and that the statutory limitation period should be calculated from the date the victim became aware of the defamatory content. The court accepted these arguments following legal clarification issued by the Federal Supreme Court.

According to court records, the case stemmed from a personal dispute that escalated on December 15, 2024. Prosecutors said the defendant published videos on her Snapchat account containing insinuations and allegations accusing the complainant, a married woman and mother, of immoral conduct. The posts reportedly included repeated claims that the defendant possessed “evidence, chats, and videos” to support the accusations, as well as references to unidentified men, though no proof was ever produced.

During questioning, the defendant stated that she had previously lived with the complainant and claimed tensions arose after she informed her of her intention to move out. She alleged that the complainant refused to return her personal belongings and maintained that the criminal complaint was filed out of spite.

The complainant’s husband, however, testified that the defendant deliberately attempted to provoke marital discord by making statements that directly targeted his wife’s honor and dignity. He told the court that the defendant claimed to possess compromising images and videos and threatened to make them public but failed to provide any evidence despite repeated requests.

In its ruling, the court held that criminal intent in cases of insult and defamation is established when statements or insinuations are deliberately made to damage a person’s honor or reputation. It further ruled that indirect references can be legally equivalent to explicit accusations when their meaning is clearly understood. Finding the evidence sufficient and conclusive, the court convicted the defendant under the Law on Combatting Rumors and Cybercrimes and upheld all penalties imposed.