Article 13 of the Saudi Anti-Cybercrime Law
المادة 13 من نظام مكافحة جرائم المعلوماتية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 المحصلة منها . كما يجوز الحكم بإغلاق الموقع الإلكتروني ، أو مكان تقديم الخدمة إغلاقًا نهائيًّا أو مؤقتًا متى كان مصدرًا لارتكاب أي من هذه الجرائم ، وكانت الجريمة قد ارتكبت بعلم مالكه.
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 13 explained in plain English
This article adds to the penalties of imprisonment and a fine other measures that the judgment may include; they are not automatic but left to the court's assessment:
- Confiscation: a judgment may be issued confiscating the devices, programs, or means used in committing any of the crimes of the law, or the money obtained from them.
- Closure: a judgment may be issued closing the website or the place where the service is provided, permanently or temporarily, under two conditions together: that the website or place be a source of committing any of these crimes, and that the crime was committed with the knowledge of its owner.
Protection of good-faith parties: the article begins with the phrase "without prejudice to the rights of good-faith parties", so confiscation does not affect the rights of someone who had no connection to the crime and acts in good faith. Consistent with this is the requirement of the owner's knowledge for closing the website or the service location; if the owner did not know of the crime, the condition for closure is not met.
This article is linked to Article 12, which provides that applying the law does not prejudice the provisions of the related laws, intellectual property rights, and international agreements, and to Article 14, which 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 these crimes, their investigation, and during trial.
Anyone whose device was confiscated or whose website was closed, and who believes they acted in good faith or did not know of the crime, would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in cybercrime.
Practical example
A person used a computer he owns to run a fake online store with which he defrauded buyers, and he knew what was going on in it. The judgment may include confiscating the device and the money obtained from the fraud, and closing the website permanently or temporarily, because it was a source of the crime and the crime was committed with its owner's knowledge.
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 13 of the Saudi Anti-Cybercrime Law
Can the phone or device used in a cybercrime be confiscated?
A judgment may be issued confiscating the devices, programs, or means used in committing the crime, without prejudice to the rights of good-faith parties.
When can a website be closed?
When it is a source of committing any of the crimes of the law and the crime was committed with its owner's knowledge; the closure may be permanent or temporary.
Is money resulting from the crime confiscated?
Yes. A judgment may be issued confiscating the money obtained from any of the crimes provided for in the law.
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 11
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.
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 ت
- 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.