Dubai Court Bans Man from Internet

Internet Insults Lead to Dubai Court Internet Ban

The judicial system of the United Arab Emirates has made it clear once again: digital communication channels are no exception from legal regulations. A Dubai court banned a man from internet use for defamation and insult, confiscated his mobile phone, and imposed a fine. This case clearly shows how seriously the Emirates takes online behavior standards.

Background of the Case

The case began in October 2023, when a man in a corporate office in Dubai's Al Safouh 2 district sent offensive and defamatory messages to another person through WhatsApp. Following the complaint's submission, authorities launched an investigation: translating the messages, gathering testimonies, and analyzing the statements of those involved.

The defendant admitted to sending the messages in question but defended himself by claiming they were merely responses to previous accusations. The court rejected this argument and emphasized that morally offensive or dignity-violating content cannot be justified by claiming the other party used a similar tone beforehand.

Court Verdict

On April 24, 2025, the court delivered a verdict in the case, which entails the defendant:

- receiving a one-month ban from using any information networks and digital platforms,

- being required to delete the offensive messages from all devices and data carriers,

- having the mobile phone used to send the messages confiscated,

- and paying a fine of 5,000 dirhams.

The execution of the sentence began on May 1, 2025, and a travel ban was also in effect during the proceedings.

Digital Space Is Not a Law-Free Zone

Legal experts emphasized in connection with the decision that under UAE laws, defamation and insult can be punishable not only in public forums but also in private messages. This is especially true if the content of the communication is morally objectionable or offensive.

The novelty of the verdict lies in applying technology-related sanctions specifically tied to the medium of commission—in this case, the internet and the mobile phone. The ban also includes that the perpetrator cannot register a new SIM card in his name and cannot use digital platforms during the penalty period.

What Can We Learn from the Case?

As digital communication plays an increasingly significant role in everyday life, it becomes inevitable that online behavior is also subject to legal responsibility. Private conversations in WhatsApp or other messaging applications do not exempt anyone from responsibility if they convey offensive or defamatory content.

This case sends a clear message to all users: behavior exhibited in the digital world can have consequences just like any other public or personal expressions. The UAE legal system thus firmly acts against those who violate others' dignity—even if it's done through a chat message.

(Source of the article based on a Dubai court ruling.)