Article 2 of the Saudi Anti-Cybercrime Law
المادة 2 من نظام مكافحة جرائم المعلوماتية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 المعلوماتي.
2- حفظ الحقوق المترتبة على الاستخدام المشروع للحاسبات الآلية والشبكات المعلوماتية .
3- حماية المصلحة العامة ، والأخلاق، والآداب العامة .
4- حماية الاقتصاد الوطني.
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 2 explained in plain English
This article explains the purpose of the law: it seeks to limit the occurrence of cybercrimes, and its means of doing so is defining these crimes and the penalty set for each of them, so that people know in advance what is prohibited and what its penalty is.
The article mentions four results that are intended to be reached:
- Helping to achieve information security, that is, protecting devices, networks, and data from attack.
- Preserving the rights arising from lawful use of computers and information networks; whoever uses technology lawfully finds protection for their rights in the law.
- Protecting the public interest, morals, and public decency.
- Protecting the national economy.
This article does not create a crime or set a penalty by itself, but it helps in understanding and interpreting the other articles of the law in light of these objectives. Its terms rely on the definitions in Article 1, such as computer and information network. The crimes and their penalties begin with Article 3, which punishes acts such as eavesdropping on what is sent over the network, blackmail after unauthorized access, and defaming others and causing them harm, with imprisonment of not more than one year and a fine of not more than SAR 500,000, or either of them.
Anyone who has been subjected to an attack over the Internet or through devices and wants to know where they stand can 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 2 of the Saudi Anti-Cybercrime Law
What is the purpose of the Anti-Cybercrime Law?
To limit the occurrence of cybercrimes by defining them and the penalty for each, helping to achieve information security, preserve rights, and protect the public interest, public decency, and the national economy.
Does the law protect someone who uses the Internet lawfully?
Yes. One of its objectives is preserving the rights arising from lawful use of computers and information networks.
Does this article contain penalties?
No. The article only sets out the objectives of the law; the crimes and their penalties are set in other articles such as Article 3.
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 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
- Article 16
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.
ينشر هذا النظام في الجريدة الرسمية ويعمل به بعد (مائة وعشرين) يومًا من تاريخ نشره.
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.