Saudi Arabia is finally implementing new laws designed to combat cybercrime, which were originally proposed last year by the nation’s advisory council, the Shura. A statement released by the cabinet this week has claimed that the new law, which will cover cybercrime offences such as hacking, will be enacted as soon as King Abdullah ratifies it. The country already has strong controls in place regarding access to certain types of online content, including pornography, which is outlawed under Islamic rules.

According to the new law those found guilty of committing a cybercrime could find themselves 500,000 riyals (over $130,000) out of pocket or even face a 1-year jail sentence. The legislation covers such offences as Internet hacking, as well as using mobile phones to take unauthorized pictures. Internet hacking would involve "illegal entry into an Internet site or entering a site in order to change its design, destroy it or amend it", while phone camera misuse entails “infringing upon private lives through misuse of mobile telephones equipped with cameras and similar devices with the purpose of defaming or harming people” according to reports in the Saudi media quoted by Reuters.