Shocking Discovery: Families Stunned to Find Deceased Loved Ones' Photos on Public Platforms

Families across the UAE are facing a disturbing new form of trauma - discovering photos and videos of their deceased loved ones circulating on social media without permission. This practice is not only emotionally devastating for grieving families but also illegal under the country's cybercrime laws, carrying penalties of up to six months in prison and fines reaching 500,000 dirhams.

The problem has become widespread enough that families now describe being "shocked twice" - first by losing a loved one, then by finding images of the deceased or accident scenes shared across WhatsApp groups and social platforms within hours.

One mother whose child died in a traffic accident told local media that seeing photos of the crash site - including her child's shoe on the ground and bloodstains on the road - spread online before she could even tell her other children what happened. "These were harsh images that showed no respect for the dignity of the situation," she said.

Another family discovered photos of their child who drowned at a Fujairah beach circulating widely on social media after someone posted them without permission. The child's uncle said the unauthorized sharing "caused the mother to collapse and made the family's situation much worse."

**Legal Framework is Clear**

Legal experts emphasize that UAE law provides strong protections for deceased individuals and their families. Lawyer Said Al Zahmi explained that privacy rights don't end with death, and republishing someone's photos after they die - even if they previously shared them on their own social media accounts - remains illegal without explicit family consent.

The country's cybercrime law, Federal Decree No. 34 of 2021, specifically criminalizes sharing photos or videos without clear consent. Article 44 sets penalties of at least six months imprisonment and fines between 150,000 and 500,000 dirhams for violations.

Legal consultant Aisha Al Dhaheri noted that many people justify photographing the deceased or their families during funerals by claiming they want to encourage prayers or sympathy. But she said the real motive is often gaining followers, and regardless of intent, the law clearly prohibits such actions.

The legal framework draws from Federal Decree Law No. 45 of 2021 on personal data protection, which extends constitutional privacy protections. Even if a deceased person's face isn't visible, sharing identifiable images remains illegal.

**Psychological Impact Runs Deep**

Social worker Aisha Rashid Al Kindi warns that sharing images of deceased people or accident scenes creates psychological trauma that can last years, especially for children. She described how a teacher showing photos of a deceased student to classmates left lasting emotional scars.

Children may appear to recover quickly but often develop symptoms like loss of appetite, bedwetting, or intense fears about death and accidents. The problem gets worse because these images and videos keep circulating long after they're first posted, repeatedly reopening psychological wounds for families.

Al Kindi pointed out that platforms like TikTok and Instagram regularly feature images of deceased people, including children and elderly individuals, with no regard for privacy - especially if the deceased was locally well-known.

**Cultural and Religious Violations**

Beyond legal issues, photographing funerals and sharing images of the deceased violates deep cultural and religious values about respecting the dead. Citizen Omar Mohammed Al Hammadi called such behavior inappropriate and against social customs, noting that funeral moments are "intensely private human situations that should be protected."

The practice also potentially interferes with official investigations by spreading incomplete or inaccurate information that can mislead public opinion. Only authorized agencies should release official information about accidents and deaths.

Experts stress there are many ways to express condolences and support grieving families without violating privacy or causing additional pain. The key is respecting the dignity of both the deceased and their families during what should remain private moments of grief.