Ajman: Ajman police have arrested a man from Kannur, Kerala, for circulating images of a Malayali woman, a social media influencer in the UAE, with obscene and defamatory comments.

The photographs, shared on the social media accounts of two massage centres, targeted the woman, a native of Mattanur, Kannur, and caused widespread public attention.

The woman, who works for a prominent company in Sharjah and operates legally licensed social media marketing accounts, filed a complaint at Ajman Police Station through the Ajman Prosecution, with legal support from Yab Legal Services in Sharjah.

Under UAE cybercrime laws, individuals who engage in online defamation, threats, or harassment on platforms including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp can face severe penalties. Fines range from 1,50000 AED to 5,00000 AED, in addition to imprisonment, and in some cases, deportation.

Authorities have emphasised the importance of public awareness regarding online defamation. Many people commit cybercrimes without fully understanding the legal consequences. The law protects personal privacy, and sharing someone’s private information, images, or videos without consent, including those of victims in accidents, is a criminal offence.

UAE prosecutors caution that disseminating obscene or defamatory content online can lead to up to one year in prison and huge fines.