Article 16 of the Saudi Anti-Cybercrime Law
المادة 16 من نظام مكافحة جرائم المعلوماتية
The 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
ينشر هذا النظام في الجريدة الرسمية ويعمل به بعد (مائة وعشرين) يومًا من تاريخ نشره.
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 16 explained in plain English
This article specifies the date the law takes effect, and sets out two matters:
- Publication: the law is published in the Official Gazette.
- Coming into force: it begins to apply 120 days after the date of its publication.
The purpose of this period is to allow time between the law's publication and the start of its application, in which people and authorities can learn of its provisions before they become applicable. The text does not state the date of publication itself, so the exact date on which the law began to apply cannot be determined from the text of the article alone.
As a result of specifying the effective date, the provisions of the law, including the crimes and penalties in it, are applied from the date it comes into force. This article is a procedural article that contains neither a crime nor a penalty.
Another procedural article in the law is Article 15, which assigns investigation and prosecution in the crimes provided for in it to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution.
Anyone with an incident for which they need to know the text applicable to it according to its date would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in cybercrime.
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 16 of the Saudi Anti-Cybercrime Law
When does the Anti-Cybercrime Law begin to apply?
One hundred and twenty days after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
Where is the Anti-Cybercrime Law published?
It is published in the Official Gazette, according to the text of the article.
More articles on Definitions and Objectives of the Law
- Article 1
The article defines the key terms of the Anti-Cybercrime Law, such as person, computer, data, unauthorized access, cybercrime, and interception.
يقصد بالألفاظ والعبارات الآتية - أينما وردت في هذا النظام - المعاني المبينة أمامها ما لم يقتض السياق خلاف ذلك: 1- الشخص : أي شخص ذي صفة طبيعية أو اعتبارية ، عام
- Article 2
The 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.
يهدف هذا النظام إلى الحد من وقوع جرائم المعلوماتية ، وذلك بتحديد هذه الجرائم والعقوبات المقررة لكل منها ، وبما يؤدي إلى ما يأتي : 1- المساعدة على تحقيق الأمن ال
- Article 12
The 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.
لا يخل تطبيق هذا النظام بالأحكام الواردة في الأنظمة ذات العلاقة وخاصة ما يتعلق بحقوق الملكية الفكرية ، والاتفاقيات الدولية ذات الصلة التي تكون المملكة طرفًا فيه
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.