Photography without permission in Saudi Arabia

Photography without permission in Saudi Arabia is illegal and punishable by law. This is because it violates the privacy of citizens, which must be protected and respected. It is also a violation of the privacy of others, which is illegal and immoral.

Photography has become a popular hobby in the world, especially after the widespread use of technology. However, there are some people who take pictures of others without permission and use them for blackmail or threats.

This has led many countries to enact laws against taking pictures without permission. Saudi Arabia is one of these countries. The main purpose of these laws is to deter this crime and protect the privacy of individuals.

Saudi law prohibits taking pictures of others without permission. Anyone who commits this offense is considered a criminal and will be punished.

The punishment for taking pictures without permission in Saudi Arabia is as follows:

• A fine of at least 300 Saudi riyals and up to 500,000 Saudi riyals.
• Imprisonment for a period of not more than one year and not less than two weeks.

If the offender is caught taking pictures without permission again, they will be sentenced to one year in prison and their equipment will be confiscated. In this case, the judge may impose both punishments, i.e., imprisonment and a fine.

The following are some of the disadvantages of taking pictures without permission:

• Increased cases of blackmail and threats using pictures taken without permission, which can damage the reputation of those who have been photographed.
• Taking pictures of others in places where photography is not allowed.
• Disclosing or leaking secrets.
• Taking pictures of ordinary people without their knowledge and then posting them on social media.

The Saudi Intellectual Property Authority has clarified that in cases where the violation is considered serious, it will be referred to the board of directors of the authority, which will then forward it to the competent authority.

The punishment for violating the public right in the case of taking pictures without permission in Saudi Arabia is as follows:

• Imprisonment for a period of not more than six months.
• Closing the establishment.
• A fine of up to 250,000 Saudi riyals.
• Publicly shaming the offender in the official newspapers of Saudi Arabia.

In cases where the same act is committed again, the punishment may be doubled.

Spying on the privacy of others is considered an immoral act that is prohibited by Saudi law.

The following are considered crimes of espionage and invasion of privacy under the Cyber Crimes Law:

• Spying on and intercepting messages and calls sent and received over the internet or through computers.
• Exposing the lives of others through the misuse of mobile phones, especially those with cameras that can be used to take pictures without permission.

The punishment for the crime of espionage is imprisonment for a period of not more than one year and a fine of up to 500,000 Saudi riyals. The judge may impose both punishments or just one.

Conclusion

Photography is allowed in many cases, such as taking pictures to document important public or private events, such as traffic accidents, fights, or assaults. In these cases, photography is not considered evidence of guilt or innocence, but rather a means of establishing facts. In this case, photography is allowed and no punishment is imposed. However, it is important to be careful not to take pictures of people without their permission to avoid the risk of being punished.