Landmark ruling requires international platforms to adhere to local court decisions.
Dubai: The UAE judiciary has reinforced protections for privacy and human dignity in the digital age, ruling that global technology platforms must comply with local court decisions, even if their operations extend beyond national borders.
In a landmark case, a UAE court ordered a major international search engine to remove an offensive video targeting a woman living in the country. The ruling sets a significant legal precedent regarding the responsibilities of local subsidiaries of global digital platforms.
How the Case Began
The case arose after a video containing offensive material about the woman was posted on an international online platform.
Authorities acted swiftly once a formal complaint was filed, identifying the individual responsible and initiating legal proceedings. While the offender was prosecuted, the video remained accessible online, allowing the harm to persist.
The woman later contacted one of the world’s leading search engine companies, requesting the removal of the offensive content. After receiving no response, she filed a lawsuit. The court then formally notified the company in its capacity as the entity managing the platform’s operations within the UAE.
During the hearings, the company argued that it was not directly responsible, claiming that it did not own the platform itself.
Court Establishes Local Responsibility
After proceedings at two levels of litigation, the court ruled that the UAE-based entity affiliated with the parent technology company is legally responsible for complying with judicial decisions issued within the country.
The court ordered the immediate removal of the offensive video, and the ruling was later upheld on appeal. Following the final judgment, the company removed the material from its platform.
Protecting Human Dignity Online
Digital law researcher Dr. Ammar Al Asbahi said the judgment underscores the UAE judiciary’s growing role in safeguarding human dignity in the digital space.
Speaking on the “Ghafah Podcast”, he explained that while prosecuting the individual addressed part of the harm, the continued circulation of the video represented an ongoing violation that required judicial intervention.
He emphasized that the court approached the case not as a technical matter, but as one directly impacting human dignity. Dr. Al Asbahi added that when a company has a registered legal entity in the UAE, it is obligated to implement court rulings—even if its servers or management are based overseas.
The Rise of the ‘Right to Digital Forgetting’
Dr. Al Asbahi also highlighted the growing importance of the “right to digital forgetting”, a legal concept emerging at the intersection of technology and law.
The principle allows individuals to request the removal of outdated, irrelevant, or privacy-violating information from online search results.
He noted that the digital world now holds an estimated 100 million zettabytes of data, creating a near-permanent memory. Unlike human memory, which naturally fades over time, online content can remain accessible indefinitely.
“People change, and their views evolve,” he said. “But content shared years ago can remain permanently linked to their names through search engines.”
Dr. Al Asbahi noted that balancing the right to be forgotten with freedom of expression depends on several factors, including how much time has passed and whether the individual is a public figure or a private person.
Legal Safeguards Under UAE Law
Under Article 15 of the UAE Personal Data Protection Law, individuals have the right to request the correction or deletion of their personal data.
Requests to remove or correct personal data may be approved if the purpose for processing the data no longer exists, consent has been withdrawn, or the processing violates the law.
The legislation also outlines exceptions, including matters related to public health, ongoing investigations, legal claims, or cases governed by other applicable laws.
Courts Have the Final Say
Dr. Al Asbahi explained that search engines now act as the first gatekeepers for digital forgetting requests, evaluating applications against legal standards.
If a request is rejected, courts remain the ultimate authority, responsible for balancing privacy rights with freedom of expression.
