{"id":9693,"date":"2026-10-28T12:54:24","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T09:54:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/electronic-threat-extortion-crime-saudi-arabia\/"},"modified":"2026-10-28T12:56:25","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T09:56:25","slug":"electronic-threat-extortion-crime-saudi-arabia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/electronic-threat-extortion-crime-saudi-arabia\/","title":{"rendered":"Electronic Threats and Extortion as a Crime in Saudi Arabia: Elements and Penalty"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.usus-tbl{border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;max-width:760px;margin:12px 0 20px;font-size:15px}.usus-tbl th{background:#f4eff9;color:#2A124A;font-weight:700;text-align:right;padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:2px solid #C9A227}.usus-tbl td{padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5ddec;vertical-align:top}<\/style>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<p>Electronic threats and extortion do more than violate information or privacy: they press on a person&#8217;s will, using technology to push them into conduct they did not freely choose. Private information may be used to demand money, to force an act, or to stop someone exercising a right. This article sets out the provision that criminalises unlawful access for the purpose of threats or extortion, explains its meaning and the conditions for the crime, and then the penalty.<\/p>\n<table class=\"usus-tbl\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Issue<\/th>\n<th>Rule<\/th>\n<th>Article<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>The offence<\/td>\n<td>Unlawful access to threaten or extort a person into doing or not doing something, even if the act itself is lawful<\/td>\n<td>3(2)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Penalty<\/td>\n<td>Up to one year in prison and a fine of up to SAR 500,000, or either<\/td>\n<td>3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Aggravation<\/td>\n<td>At least six months&#8217; prison or a fine of at least SAR 250,000 in listed cases<\/td>\n<td>8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Attempt<\/td>\n<td>Up to half the maximum penalty<\/td>\n<td>10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Exemption<\/td>\n<td>Discretionary, for whoever reports to the authorities first, under conditions<\/td>\n<td>11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Confiscation and closure<\/td>\n<td>Devices and proceeds may be confiscated and the site closed, when conditions are met<\/td>\n<td>13<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<figure class=\"usus-ig usus-ig-9693-1\"><img class=\"wp-image-9699\" src=\"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-9693-1.webp\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1215\" alt=\" \u2014 Electronic Threats and Extortion as a Crime in Saudi Arabia (Usus Law Firm infographic)\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-9693-1.webp 1200w, https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-9693-1-768x778.webp 768w, https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-9693-1-640x648.webp 640w, https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-9693-1-400x405.webp 400w, https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-9693-1-367x372.webp 367w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<h2>The governing provision<\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/anti-cybercrime-law-saudi-arabia\/\">Anti-Cyber Crime Law<\/a> (Royal Decree M\/17 dated 8\/3\/1428H), Article 3(2), criminalises &#8220;unlawful access to threaten or extort a person to make them do or refrain from doing an act, even if doing or refraining from that act is lawful&#8221;. The opening of the article sets the penalty: &#8220;imprisonment for no more than one year and a fine of no more than five hundred thousand riyals, or either of them&#8221;. The lawfulness of what is demanded does not make the means lawful.<\/p>\n<h2>What it means<\/h2>\n<p>The provision covers someone who deliberately, and without permission, accesses a computer, website, information system or network in order to threaten or extort another person. Article 1(7) defines unlawful access as deliberate access to a computer, website, information system or network the person is not authorised to access. A threat arriving by phone or message, or merely holding information about someone, is not enough on its own: unauthorised access linked to the purpose of threat or extortion must be established. The law does not define the two terms; a threat is a warning of harm to put pressure on someone, and extortion is using that pressure to push them to a particular act, financial or not. The two need not occur together.<\/p>\n<h2>Elements of the crime<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Legal element:<\/strong> Article 3(2), with the definition of unlawful access in Article 1.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Material element:<\/strong> actual unauthorised access, linked to threatening or extorting a person; intent alone, or merely holding information, is not enough.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mental element:<\/strong> deliberate access, knowing it is unauthorised, intending to use it to make the person act or refrain.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The text does not require that the offender obtain money or that the victim comply; whether the crime is complete or an attempt is for the court on the facts. Messages, logs and technical reports help prove the access, link it to the offender and show its purpose, but a message in an account does not by itself settle who sent it. If unlawful access is not proven, the conduct may still fall under another provision.<\/p>\n<h2>Penalty<\/h2>\n<p>Up to one year in prison and a fine of up to SAR 500,000, or either; these are maximums, with no general minimum. Under Article 8 the penalty is aggravated where the crime is committed by an organised gang, is linked to a public office or abuse of influence, involves luring and exploiting minors, or follows prior convictions for similar crimes: then prison is not less than six months or the fine not less than SAR 250,000. Article 13 allows confiscation of devices, software and proceeds, protecting good-faith third parties, and closure of the site where the owner knew. Attempt is punished by up to half the maximum (Article 10), and the court may exempt an offender who reports first (Article 11).<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>What is the penalty for unlawful access to threaten or extort?<\/h3>\n<p>Up to one year in prison and a fine of up to SAR 500,000, or either, under Article 3 of the Anti-Cyber Crime Law.<\/p>\n<h3>Is a threatening message enough?<\/h3>\n<p>Not for this provision: unauthorised access linked to the threat must be proven. Otherwise the conduct may be examined under another provision.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<p>Anti-Cyber Crime Law, Royal Decree M\/17 dated 8\/3\/1428H; Azzam, I. (1439H), Majallat Al-Adl (82); Al-Minshawi, M. (1444H\/2023), The Special Criminal Law, 2nd ed.<\/p>\n<p>Facing online extortion? Read <a href=\"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/blackmail-saudi-arabia\/\">blackmail in Saudi Arabia<\/a> and see our <a href=\"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/criminal-lawyer-riyadh\/\">criminal lawyer in Riyadh<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:12.5px;color:#6a6178;border-top:1px solid #e6ddd0;padding-top:10px;margin-top:16px\"><em>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.<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"usus-qbox\">\n<h2>Request a quick consultation<\/h2>\n<p>Leave your name and mobile number, and a lawyer from our Riyadh or Tabuk office will call you during working hours. We advise in English.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wpcf7 no-js\" id=\"wpcf7-f6963-o1\" lang=\"en-US\" dir=\"ltr\" data-wpcf7-id=\"6963\">\n<div class=\"screen-reader-response\"><p role=\"status\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\"><\/p> <ul><\/ul><\/div>\n<form action=\"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9693#wpcf7-f6963-o1\" method=\"post\" class=\"wpcf7-form init\" aria-label=\"Contact form\" novalidate=\"novalidate\" data-status=\"init\">\n<fieldset class=\"hidden-fields-container\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7\" value=\"6963\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_version\" value=\"6.2.2\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_locale\" value=\"en_US\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_unit_tag\" value=\"wpcf7-f6963-o1\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_container_post\" value=\"0\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_posted_data_hash\" value=\"\" \/>\n<\/fieldset>\n<span id=\"wpcf7-6ae23b0454cb9-wrapper\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap cf7apps-honeypot-wrap honeypot-qf-wrap\" style=\"position:absolute;width:1px;height:1px;padding:0;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);white-space:nowrap;border:0;\"><label for=\"wpcf7-6ae23b0454cb9-field\" class=\"hp-message\">Please leave this field empty.<\/label><input id=\"wpcf7-6ae23b0454cb9-field\"  class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text\" type=\"text\" name=\"honeypot-qf\" value=\"\" autocomplete=\"new-password\" tabindex=\"1000\" data-cf7apps-tabindex=\"1000\" \/><\/span>\n<div class=\"usus-qf\">\n<div class=\"f\"><label for=\"q-name\">Name<\/label><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"q-name\"><input size=\"40\" maxlength=\"400\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text wpcf7-validates-as-required\" id=\"q-name\" autocomplete=\"name\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" placeholder=\"Your name\" value=\"\" type=\"text\" name=\"q-name\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"f\"><label for=\"q-phone\">Mobile<\/label><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"q-phone\"><input size=\"40\" maxlength=\"400\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-tel wpcf7-validates-as-required wpcf7-text wpcf7-validates-as-tel\" id=\"q-phone\" autocomplete=\"tel\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" placeholder=\"05xxxxxxxx\" value=\"\" type=\"tel\" name=\"q-phone\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"f\"><label for=\"q-city\">City<\/label><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"q-city\"><select class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-select wpcf7-validates-as-required\" id=\"q-city\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" name=\"q-city\"><option value=\"Riyadh\">Riyadh<\/option><option value=\"Tabuk\">Tabuk<\/option><option value=\"Other city\">Other city<\/option><\/select><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"f w\"><label for=\"q-msg\">Your case in brief (optional)<\/label><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"q-msg\"><textarea cols=\"40\" rows=\"2\" maxlength=\"600\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-textarea\" id=\"q-msg\" aria-invalid=\"false\" placeholder=\"One or two lines are enough\" name=\"q-msg\"><\/textarea><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"s\"><input class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-submit has-spinner\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Request a call from a lawyer\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"wpcf7-response-output\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Electronic threats and extortion do more than violate information or privacy: they press on a person&#8217;s will, using technology to push them into conduct they did not freely choose. Private information may be used to demand money, to force an act, or to stop someone exercising a right. This article sets out the provision that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9695,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[84,86],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9693","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-criminal-law","category-team-writings"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":{"landsacpe":["https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-cover-9693-1140x445.jpg?wsr",1140,445,true],"list":["https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-cover-9693-463x348.jpg?wsr",463,348,true],"medium":["https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-cover-9693-300x169.jpg?wsr",300,169,true],"full":["https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usus-cover-9693.jpg?wsr",1200,675,false]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9693","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9693"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9693\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9701,"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9693\/revisions\/9701"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9695"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9693"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9693"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ususlawfirm.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}