Saudi Arabia Policies Affecting Disinformation
Legislation
Under the Saudi Anti-Cyber Crime Law, the "Production, Preparation, Transmission, or storage of material impinging on public order" is illegal.[1] In practice, this law makes it so that anyone who creates or disseminates false information that affects the public on social media can be sentenced up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 3 million riyals.[2]
Actions and Initiatives
Saudi authorities began threatening people posting "fake news" online with sentences up to five years jail time and a fine of 3 million riyals following the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. [3][4][5]
In 2020, the Saudi Public Prosecution Office announced that Saudi citizens and foreign expatriates who spread rumors on social media could be jailed for up to five years and fined 3 million riyals, consistent with the Anti-Cyber Crime Law punishment. This was part of their effort to combat COVID-19 misinformation.[6]
See more:
National Policies Affecting Disinformation
- ↑ https://www.tamimi.com/law-update-articles/cyber-crimes-committed-by-social-media-users-in-saudi-arabia/#:~:text=The%20Saudi%20Anti%2DCyber%20Crime%20Law%20aims%20to%20secure%20the,as%20well%20as%20people's%20privacy.&text=A%20number%20of%20cyber%20crimes,of%20these%20has%20a%20penalty.
- ↑ https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/539509/Opinion/Local-Viewpoint/Cybercrimes-law-and-the-spread-of-fake-news-on-social-media
- ↑ https://www.poynter.org/ifcn/anti-misinformation-actions/
- ↑ https://www.newsweek.com/saudi-arabia-fake-news-jamal-khashoggi-1170613
- ↑ https://gizmodo.com/saudi-arabia-threatens-anyone-spreading-fake-news-onlin-1829749930
- ↑ https://www.arabnews.com/node/1668686/saudi-arabia