In force Last amended 22/7/1436 AH
Saudi Anti-Cybercrime Law
نظام مكافحة جرائم المعلوماتية
The law covers its definitions and objective, the penalties for those who commit cybercrimes, and the responsibility of the Communications and Information Technology Commission.
- Articles
- 16
- In force
- 16
- Amended
- 1
- Issued
- 8/3/1428 AH
Issued by: مرسوم ملكي رقم م/17 بتاريخ 8 / 3 / 1428 · قرار مجلس الوزراء رقم 79 بتاريخ 7 / 3 / 1428
Each article shows the official Arabic text, which is the only legally binding version, followed by our plain-English explanation.
Browse Anti-Cybercrime Law by topic
Articles of the Saudi Anti-Cybercrime Law
- Article 1The article defines the key terms of the Anti-Cybercrime Law, such as person, computer, data, unauthorized access, cybercrime, and interception.
- Article 2The article explains that the law aims to limit cybercrimes by defining them and their penalties, in order to achieve information security and protect rights, the public interest, and the national economy.
- Article 3The article punishes with imprisonment of up to one year and a fine of up to SAR 500,000, or either, eavesdropping, blackmail after unauthorized access, hacking websites, violating privacy with cameras, and defamation.
- Article 4The article punishes with imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to SAR 2 million, or either, online fraud to take money and unauthorized access to banking and credit data.
- Article 5The article punishes with imprisonment of up to four years and a fine of up to SAR 3 million, or either, deleting or leaking private data after unauthorized access, disabling a network, and obstructing access to a service.
- Article 6The article punishes with imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of up to SAR 3 million, or either, content crimes against public order and decency and websites for human trafficking and drugs, and allows publishing a summary of the judgment.Amended M/54
- Article 7The article punishes with imprisonment of up to ten years and a fine of up to SAR 5 million, or either, terrorist websites and unauthorized access to obtain data affecting state security or the economy.
- Article 8The article provides that the penalty of imprisonment or the fine must not be less than half of its maximum if the crime is committed through an organized gang, by exploiting a public position, by luring minors, or with similar prior convictions.
- Article 9The article punishes whoever incites, helps, or agrees with another to commit a cybercrime, up to the maximum penalty if the crime occurs and up to half of it if it does not.
- Article 10The article punishes anyone who attempts any crime in the law with a penalty not exceeding half of the maximum penalty set for that crime.
- Article 11The article allows the court to exempt an offender who takes the initiative to report before the crime is known and before harm occurs, or after it is known if the report leads to the arrest of the other offenders or the tools.
- Article 12The article provides that applying the Anti-Cybercrime Law does not prejudice the provisions of related laws, especially intellectual property rights, or the international agreements to which the Kingdom is a party.
- Article 13The article allows a judgment confiscating the devices, programs, and means used in a cybercrime and the money obtained from it, and closing the website or service location if the crime was committed with its owner's knowledge.
- Article 14The article requires the Communications and Information Technology Commission, according to its jurisdiction, to provide technical support and assistance to the competent security authorities during the detection of cybercrimes, their investigation, and trial.
- Article 15The article assigns investigation and prosecution in the crimes provided for in the Anti-Cybercrime Law to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution.
- Article 16The article provides that the Anti-Cybercrime Law is published in the Official Gazette and comes into force one hundred and twenty days after its publication.
A question about the Saudi Anti-Cybercrime Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Need a lawyer who knows the Saudi Anti-Cybercrime Law?
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law, free and with no commitment.