In a recent incident at a private school in Dubai, a school staff member has been fined Dh2,000 by a court for unauthorizedly capturing and sharing a photo of a female teacher who was caught sleeping on campus.

The incident occurred during a break between classes when the teacher was found dozing off in the teachers’ lounge.

The accused, who is a colleague of the teacher and works as an administrator at the school, took advantage of the situation and discreetly took a photo of the sleeping teacher using a mobile phone, without her knowledge. The photo clearly showed the teacher’s face.

The captured photo was later sent to the school administration via WhatsApp. Feeling that her privacy had been violated, the teacher lodged a complaint, leading to legal action. The female employee justified her actions by claiming it was part of her job responsibilities.

According to a report in the Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm, a Dubai court found the female school employee guilty of breaching the teacher’s privacy. However, the court showed leniency in its judgment and imposed a fine of Dh2,000.

It is important to note that the UAE has stringent laws to safeguard individuals’ privacy rights. Posting photographs, videos, or making comments on social media that intrude upon someone’s privacy can result in significant penalties, including fines of up to Dh500,000 and imprisonment for up to six months.

This applies to the act of taking, sharing, or publishing photos or personal information with the intention to harm others.