Legal experts have warned that a new Facebook group encouraging women in Dubai to share pictures and personal information about men they have dated may be violating UAE privacy laws. The group, ‘Are We Dating the Same Guy in Dubai,’ has quickly gained over 5,000 members, many of whom migrated from a more discreet group called ‘Whose Guy Is It Anyway,’ which shares only hints about the men.
In contrast, ‘Are We Dating the Same Guy in Dubai’ allows users to post explicit details and photos of men, prompting other members to share sensitive information and warnings. One man, whose picture was posted in the group, expressed his distress: “It is truly disheartening to see how this group has spread lies and hatred about me, especially from girls whom I have never even met in person. The gossip and false accusations have not only affected me personally, but also impacted my reputation in business. These actions are not only hurtful, but they are also damaging to my career and livelihood. I will be taking legal action against anyone who has intentionally posted false and damaging comments about me.”
Ahmed Odeh, a legal consultant with Abu Baker Salem Advocates, highlighted the potential legal ramifications in a viral video. “This Facebook group is potentially violating several articles of UAE’s Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combating Rumors and Cybercrimes and Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 (UAE Penal Code),” Odeh explained. “The severity of the violation and potential penalties would depend on the specific content shared and the impact on the individuals involved. Legal authorities would need to assess each case individually.”
Members of the group admitted that men are frequently mocked and criticized in the posts. Upon review, found that many of these posts indeed violated local laws, as confirmed by legal experts.
Poorvi Aswani, Principal Associate at legal consultancy firm CMI & Co, emphasized that using social media to defame and publicly criticize individuals for alleged ‘double-dating’ violates UAE defamation and privacy laws. “Anyone who attributes an incident to another person that could subject them to public hatred or contempt is punishable for libel and slander,” she said.
Aswani also noted that Federal Decree No. 34 on Countering Rumours and Cybercrimes penalizes the use of the internet and information systems to insult or subject someone to punishment or contempt, even if the allegations are true. Both laws prescribe prison terms and fines, with the latter law imposing a fine of up to Dh500,000 and/or a prison sentence of at least one year.
Some women in the group have reported privacy concerns, with instances of being added to dubious subgroups after joining the group’s WhatsApp extension. An Italian marketing manager, who was removed from the Facebook group after voicing her concerns, said, “I didn’t sign up for this. I joined the group looking for information about my boyfriend after breaking up with him.”
Attempts to reach the group’s administrators for comments were unsuccessful, with their UAE phone numbers unresponsive and messages unanswered.
