Ajman Court Orders Influencer to Pay Dh 30,000 as Fine for Snapchat Defamation

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Ajman: 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 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 via information technology, in violation of Federal Decree Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combatting Rumours and Cybercrimes.

Court records show the case stemmed from a personal dispute that escalated on December 15, 2024, when the defendant posted videos containing insinuations accusing the complainant, a married woman and mother, of immoral conduct. Prosecutors said the posts repeatedly claimed the defendant possessed “evidence, chats and videos” allegedly proving the accusations, alongside references to unidentified men.

The complainant’s husband testified that the posts were deliberately aimed at damaging his wife’s honour and provoking marital discord. He said the defendant threatened public exposure but failed to provide any evidence. He also told investigators that a third party later contacted him on the defendant’s behalf, urging him to drop the case and warning of further exposure if legal action continued.

The defendant denied the charges, claiming the videos were old recordings from another Gulf country. However, forensic analysis of her mobile phone and flash memory revealed that the clips were stored in Snapchat’s ‘Memories’ feature and directly linked to her account.

In one recovered clip, the defendant was heard mocking the complainant and alleging an illicit relationship, while threatening to reveal supposed evidence.

The case had initially been dismissed on limitation grounds. However, in December 2025, the Federal Supreme Court overturned the rulings, clarifying that in cybercrime cases the limitation period begins from the date the victim becomes aware of the defamatory content. Police records confirmed the complainant learned of the posts on April 2, 2025, making the complaint admissible.

The appeal court subsequently convicted the defendant, fined her Dh 30,000, ordered the confiscation of the phone used in the offence, and directed the deletion of the defamatory content under Public Prosecution supervision.

The court also accepted a related civil claim in principle, referring it to the competent civil court. The complainant is seeking Dh 51,000 in temporary compensation for moral and psychological harm.