The Public Prosecution warns against cyber harassment and clarifies the penalties
The Public Prosecution in Saudi Arabia reiterated its strong warnings regarding the crime of online harassment, emphasizing that the law makes no distinction between direct harassment and harassment perpetrated through modern technology. The Public Prosecution clarified via its official account on the "X" platform that legal protection extends to the digital space in all its forms, in a move aimed at enhancing legal awareness and regulating online behavior.
The concept of cyber harassment in the system
The Public Prosecution affirmed that the crime of harassment encompasses any statement, action, or gesture with sexual connotations made by one person towards another, that violates their body, honor, or modesty, by any means whatsoever, including modern technology. This includes text messages, images, videos, or even sexually suggestive emojis circulated through social media applications.
This clarification confirms that the use of smartphones or fake accounts does not exempt the perpetrator from criminal responsibility, as the competent authorities possess the necessary technical capabilities to track cybercrimes, identify their perpetrators, and bring them to justice.
Legislative context: Anti-harassment system
This warning is based on the "Anti-Harassment Law" adopted by the Kingdom in 2018, a landmark in Saudi Arabia's legal system for protecting individual rights and dignity. This law was enacted to fill a legislative gap and provide a safe environment for everyone, whether in workplaces, public spaces, or even in the virtual world.
The system primarily aims to prevent crime, punish perpetrators, and protect the victim, in order to preserve the individual’s privacy, dignity, and personal freedom, which are guaranteed by the provisions of Islamic law and applicable regulations.
Social significance and expected impact
This warning is of paramount importance in light of the significant expansion in the use of technology and the digital transformation that the Kingdom is witnessing within Vision 2030. With the increasing reliance on digital platforms in work, education and social communication, it has become necessary to impose a legal framework that protects users from any abuses that may affect them.
The Public Prosecution’s emphasis on this issue reflects the state’s keenness to promote positive behaviors and combat negative and alien phenomena, which contributes to creating a vibrant and safe society, and encourages effective participation in the digital space without fear of harassment or blackmail, thus enhancing the quality of digital life in the Kingdom.
