Someone photographed or filmed you without consent, posted your picture, or threatened to publish it? Photographing someone without permission can be a cybercrime under Saudi Arabia's Anti-Cyber Crime Law, and may overlap with harassment, blackmail or defamation. Here is when it is a crime, the penalty, and what to do as the victim or the accused.
| Act | Penalty | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Invading private life by misusing camera phones or similar devices | Up to one year's prison and a fine of up to SAR 500,000, or either | 3, Anti-Cyber Crime Law |
| Defaming others and causing them harm through information technology | The same | 3 |
| Threatening or blackmailing a person | The same | 3 |
Reviewed by: Ghada Nasser Al-HarbiAttorney at USUS Law FirmLast updated:
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When is it a crime?
The law punishes invasion of private life through misuse of camera phones, not every photo. The judge weighs the place and circumstances: filming someone at home or in a private setting, or a woman without her knowledge and publishing it, differs from appearing briefly in a picture in a public place. Publishing, defaming or threatening makes it more serious. A sexual element may make it harassment; threatening to publish for money or favours is blackmail.
If someone photographed or posted you
- Keep the evidence: screenshots with the account name, link and date, before they are deleted.
- Do not threaten back or publish their details.
- Report through the Kollona Amn app or a police station.
- Claim compensation alongside the criminal case.
Frequently asked questions
What is the penalty for photographing someone without consent in Saudi Arabia?
Where it invades private life through misuse of camera phones: up to one year's prison and a fine of up to SAR 500,000, or either (Article 3 of the Anti-Cyber Crime Law).
Is taking photos in public a crime?
Not every photo in public is a crime; what is punished is invading private life, defamation or harm, assessed by the judge on the facts.
Usus Law Firm handles cybercrime cases for victims and the accused, in confidence. See our criminal lawyer in Riyadh.
Legal review: the Usus Law Firm team
A select team of lawyers and legal advisers licensed by the Saudi Ministry of Justice, working from Riyadh and Tabuk, with experience before the general, commercial, labor, criminal, personal status and administrative courts. Every article is reviewed before publication and updated when laws or regulations change.
Last reviewed: 28 October 2026
This article is general legal information and is not a substitute for advice on your specific case. Court proceedings in Saudi Arabia are in Arabic; the official Arabic text of each law prevails.
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