Article 11 of the Saudi Anti-Cybercrime Law
المادة 11 من نظام مكافحة جرائم المعلوماتية
The 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للمحكمة المختصة أن تعفي من هذه العقوبات كل من يبادر من الجناة بإبلاغ السلطة المختصة بالجريمة قبل العلم بها وقبل وقوع الضرر، وإن كان الإبلاغ بعد العلم بالجريمة تعين للإعفاء أن يكون من شأن الإبلاغ ضبط باقي الجناة في حال تعددهم، أو الأدوات المستخدمة في الجريمة.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 11 explained in plain English
This article opens a door to exemption from the penalty to encourage reporting and uncovering cybercrimes. The exemption here is discretionary; that is, the competent court may exempt, and the exemption is not an automatic right of the person who reports.
This article benefits the offender himself who takes the initiative to report the crime to the competent authority, and it distinguishes between two cases:
- Reporting before the crime is known and before harm occurs: the court may exempt in this case, and both conditions are required: the report must be before the crime is known, and before harm occurs.
- Reporting after the crime is known: for the exemption, it is required that the report be capable of leading to the arrest of the other offenders if there are several, or the arrest of the tools used in the crime.
This article is linked to Article 10, which punishes attempting any crime of the law by a penalty not exceeding half of the maximum penalty set. Article 12 provides that applying this law does not prejudice the provisions of the related laws, especially those relating to intellectual property rights, and the international agreements to which the Kingdom is a party.
Because the decision to exempt is left to the court's assessment, and its conditions are precise, anyone thinking of reporting a crime they took part in would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in cybercrime beforehand.
Practical example
Three people agreed to hack the website of an online store, and after the competent authorities began an investigation, one of them regretted it and reported his two partners and the devices used, and they were arrested. Here the competent court may exempt him from the penalty, because his report after the crime became known led to the arrest of the other offenders and the tools.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 11 of the Saudi Anti-Cybercrime Law
Is an offender exempted if he reports the cybercrime?
The competent court may exempt him if he takes the initiative to report to the competent authority before the crime is known and before harm occurs; the exemption is discretionary, not automatic.
What if the report is made after the crime is discovered?
For the exemption, it is then required that the report be capable of leading to the arrest of the other offenders if there are several, or the arrest of the tools used in the crime.
Who has the power to decide on the exemption?
The competent court; the text says: the competent court may exempt.
More articles on Aggravated Penalties, Attempt and Confiscation
- Article 6Amended by M/54
The 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.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على خمس سنوات وبغرامة لا تزيد على ثلاثة ملايين ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين كلُّ شخص يرتكب أيًّا من الجرائم المعلوماتية الآتية: 1- إن
- Article 8
The 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.
لا تقل عقوبة السجن أو الغرامة عن نصف حدها الأعلى إذا اقترنت الجريمة بأي من الحالات الآتية: 1- ارتكاب الجاني الجريمة من خلال عصابة منظمة . 2- شغل الجاني وظيفة عا
- Article 9
The 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.
يعاقب كل من حرَّض غيره، أو ساعده، أو اتفق معه على ارتكاب أيٍّ من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام ؛ إذا وقعت الجريمة بناء على هذا التحريض، أو المساعدة، أو ال
- Article 10
The article punishes anyone who attempts any crime in the law with a penalty not exceeding half of the maximum penalty set for that crime.
يعاقب كل من شرع في القيام بأي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام بما لا يتجاوز نصف الحد الأعلى للعقوبة المقررة .
- Article 13
The 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.
مع عدم الإخلال بحقوق حسني النية ، يجوز الحكم بمصادرة الأجهزة، أو البرامج، أو الوسائل المستخدمة في ارتكاب أي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام، أو الأموال ا
- Article 14
The 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.
تتولى هيئة الاتصالات وتقنية المعلومات وفقًا لاختصاصها تقديم الدعم والمساندة الفنية للجهات الأمنية المختصة خلال مراحل ضبط هذه الجرائم والتحقيق فيها وأثناء المحاك
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.