Violation of the right to privacy through artificial intelligence entities under the uae’s anti-cybercrime act
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study analyzes the legal framework for protecting the right to privacy, specifically in light of the widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, within UAE legislation. The research centers on the extent to which substantive and procedural criminal protection is efficient and effective in addressing violations arising from the use of AI entities, especially given these systems’ significant ability to collect and analyze vast amounts of personal data, thereby influencing the behavior of individuals in society. The study adopts an analytical and descriptive approach, supported by a comparative perspective. The findings indicate that the right to privacy is fundamental one that ensures individuals’ control over their personal data and information. It was also found that AI technologies have created new forms of crimes, notably with the increasing spread of publishing personal images without consent and defamation through deep-fake technologies, which reflects the growing international concern that surrounds this issue. The study highlights the importance of enhancing societal awareness of digital privacy and the necessity of its protection, as well as recommending the establishment of specialized courts to handle cybercrimes. It also emphasizes the need to strengthen international cooperation to define the legal responsibilities of AI entities.
Downloads
Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
This open-access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license.
You are free to: Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format. Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms: Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
No additional restrictions You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
How to Cite
Share
References
Abou Adel, M. (2022). Towards an advanced interactive e-learning for the language. Arab World English Journal (AWEJ), Special Issue on CALL, (8), 330–340. https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/call8.22
Adel, M. A., Boudjadi, K., Abouelnour, M. M., & Alhourani, M. I. (2024). The contribution of smartphone apps to develop teaching the Arabic language “Arabic is my language’s app” as a sample. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 6(6), 1175–1190. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v6i6.7408
Al-Ahwani, H. K. (1978). The right to respect for private life: The right to privacy (A comparative study). Cairo, Egypt: Dar Al-Nahda Al-Arabia.
Al-Kaabi, A. S. (2021). Criminal protection of the right to private life in light of the Qatari legislation on combating cybercrime. Qatar: College of Law, Qatar University.
Al-Obaidi, O. A. K. (2022). Contemporary applications of crimes resulting from artificial intelligence (1st ed.). Egypt: Arab Center for Publishing and Distribution.
AlOmran, N. M., Al-Rai, A., & Alhendi, N. I. (2025). Freedom of expression and criminal liability for journalists under Jordanian legislation. Constitutional Review, 11(1), 118–165. https://doi.org/10.31078/consrev1115
Al-Rai, A. F., & AlOmran, N. M. (2024). Criminal protection of electronic signatures from forgery in Jordanian and UAE legislation. International Journal of Electronic Governance, 16(2), 246–262. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJEG.2024.140786
Al-Rai, A. F., & AlOmran, N. M. (2026). Constitutional protections in utilising artificial intelligence systems for investigating and inferring crimes: A comparative study. International Journal of Electronic Security and Digital Forensics, 18(1), 108–124. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJESDF.2026.150188
Al-Rai, A. F., AlOmran, N. M., & Al Ansari, M. A. J. (2025). The crime of digital promotion of terrorism through digital platforms and new media: A comparative study of Jordanian and Emirati laws. International Journal of Electronic Governance, 16(4), 453–467. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJEG.2024.144636
Al-Rai, A., Imad, D., & Khater, M. (2026a). The legal regulation of cybercrimes related to character assassination under the Jordanian and French legislation. F1000Research, 15, 359. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.177079.1
Al-Rai, A., Maala, N., & Khater, M. (2026b). The authority of Jordanian criminal judge in evaluating evidence derived from artificial intelligence systems. Scientific Culture, 12(2.1), 4501–4510. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19010702
Atiya, N. (1977, October). The right of individuals to their private life. Journal of Government Legal Affairs, Issue 4.
Cambridge Dictionary. (n.d.). Artificial intelligence. Retrieved from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/artificial-intelligence
Council of Europe. (2001). Convention on cybercrime (No. 185). Budapest.
El-Erian, M., Imad, D., Sulaiman, S., Qutieshat, E., & Khater, M. (2026). The role of artificial intelligence in enhancing corporate governance and achieving sustainable development. Access to Justice in Eastern Europe, 9(1), 208-232. https://doi.org/10.33327/AJEE-18-9.1-a000177
European Union. (2016). General data protection regulation (EU) 2016/679. Retrieved from http://gdpr-info.eu/
European Union. (n.d.). EU artificial intelligence act. Retrieved from https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/
Fadlila, A. (2012). Legal protection of the right to privacy: A comparative study. Constantine: Faculty of Law, University of the Mentouri Brothers.
Fidler, D. (2015, March). The right to privacy in the digital age: Where do things stand? Retrieved from https://www.cfr.org/blog/right-privacy-digital-age-where-do-things-stand
Hassani, M. N. (2018). Explanation of the criminal law – Special part (6th ed.). Cairo, Egypt: Dar Al-Nahda Al-Arabia.
Hazam, F. (2022). The right to private life in the digital environment: A comparative study. Journal of Comparative Legal Studies, 8(1).
Ibrahim, T., & Al-Rashid, S. T. (2022). Crimes of artificial intelligence entities (1st ed.). United Arab Emirates: Scientific Renaissance Publishing House.
Jallad, S. (2013). The right to privacy between guarantees and controls in Algerian legislation and Islamic jurisprudence. Algeria: University of Oran.
Khater, M. (2024). Electronic intellectual terrorism and the Islamic efforts to combat it. Islamic Quarterly Journal, 68(1), 59–82.
Khater, M. H. (2023). International perspective on securing cyberspace against terrorist acts. International Journal of Sociotechnology and Knowledge Development, 15(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.4018/IJSKD.318706
Khater, M., Aboelazm, K. S., Imad, D., Chami, Y., & Aly, H. (2025). The role of assistive technology in reinforcing the rights of persons with disabilities to employment from a legal perspective. International Journal of Law and Management. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLMA-04-2025-0151
Mamdouh, K. (2021). The legal regulation of artificial intelligence (1st ed.). Egypt: Dar Al-Fikr Al-Jami’i.
Qutieshat, E., Al Adwan, M., Alshibli, A., Chami, Y., & Khater, M. (2026). Governing legal chatbots: Ethics, professional responsibility, and liability in comparative perspective. Research Journal in Advanced Humanities, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.58256/ppfy4k96
Saleh, Z. (2023, September). The danger of artificial intelligence to the right to privacy and the right to work. Retrieved from https://www.fdhrd.org
Serour, A. F. (1986). Criminal protection of the right to the inviolability of private life. Cairo, Egypt: Dar Al-Nahda Al-Arabia.
Shafii, I. H. (2019). Criminal liability for artificial intelligence crimes: A comparative study. Journal of Legal and Economic Research, 2(3), 479–666.
Shahawi, M. (2005). Criminal protection of the inviolability of private life. Cairo, Egypt: Dar Al-Nahda Al-Arabia.
United Arab Emirates. (2021). Federal decree-law no. 34 of 2021 on combating rumours and cybercrimes. Retrieved from https://uaelegislation.gov.ae
United Arab Emirates. (2021). Federal decree-law no. 45 of 2021 on personal data protection. Retrieved from https://uaelegislation.gov.ae
United Nations General Assembly. (2018). The right to privacy in the digital age (A/RES/73/179). Retrieved from https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/1661346
United Nations. (1948). Universal declaration of human rights. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights
United Nations. (2013, December 20). The right to privacy in the digital age. Retrieved from https://news.un.org