Article 37 of the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Law
المادة 37 من نظام الاتصالات وتقنية المعلومات · الفصل العاشر: أحكام ختامية
The article obliges a service provider and its contracted distributors, subcontractors and related persons to provide the data, information and documents requested by the Ministry or the Authority.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على مقدم الخدمة ومن يتعاقد معه من الموزعين أو مقدمي الخدمات من الباطن والأشخاص ذوي العلاقة، ممن يتيح لهم النظام تقديم خدمات الاتصالات وتقنية المعلومات، تقديمُ البيانات والمعلومات والوثائق التي تطلبها الوزارة أو الهيئة وفقاً لاختصاص كل منهما؛ تنفيذاً لأحكام النظام واللائحة.
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 37 explained in plain English
This article ensures that the regulators obtain the information they need to do their work.
Who is bound?
- The service provider.
- The distributors it contracts with.
- Subcontractors.
- Related persons.
As long as they are persons the law allows to provide communications and information technology services.
What must they do? Provide the data, information and documents requested by the Ministry or the Authority, each according to its jurisdiction, in implementation of the provisions of the law and the Implementing Regulations.
The duty is not limited to the licensed company but extends to the network of those contracted with it. The request must also be within the jurisdiction of the requesting body and for the purpose of implementing the law and the Implementing Regulations.
The article sets no deadlines for responding or particular form for the request, and does not itself state a penalty for non-compliance. Before it comes Article 36 on device specifications, and after it Article 38, which gives the Minister powers in emergencies. Anyone who receives a request for information and has a question about its limits should consult a lawyer specializing in communications and information technology law.
Practical example
An establishment in Abha works as a distributor of a telecom company's SIM cards under a contract with it. The Authority asked the establishment for data on the SIM cards it sold, in implementation of the provisions of the law. It must provide this data because it is a distributor contracted with the service provider.
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 37 of the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Law
Must SIM card distributors provide data to the communications authority?
Yes. The article requires distributors contracted with the service provider, who are persons the law allows to provide services, to provide the data, information and documents requested by the Ministry or the Authority.
May the Ministry request information from telecom companies?
Yes. The Ministry and the Authority may request data, information and documents, each according to its jurisdiction, in implementation of the provisions of the law and the Implementing Regulations.
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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.