RIYADH- Saudi law will punish spouses in the case of illegally spying oneach other’s phone and will add it to crimes related to informationtechnology.
The punishment ranges from imprisonment for a period not exceeding oneyear, and a fine of not more than 500,000 riyals ($133,000), or either oneof these penalties in case the husband or wife are spying on the other’sphone, in order to catch a wrongful act, Al Arabiya has reported.
According to legal sources, the penalty is imposed on the husband or wifein the case of illegally accessing the other’s smartphone, and it would beenough as proof that the phone is protected by a password that wasdeciphered to invade privacy.
If the husband and wife gave out or sent the information obtained throughelectronic means of communication, the penalty then is one year in prisonand a fine of 500, 000 riyals ($133,000).
However, If the phone is accessed without using or sharing the information,the crime in this case will result in a penalty with a warning from thejudge according to the circumstances of the case, and the damage caused tothe person whose cell phone was accessed.Privacy and security
Legal Advisor Abdul Aziz bin Batel said that crimes related to informationtechnology involve any devices such as computers, mobile phones andcameras, and is punishable according to the law.
Al-Batel said to Al Arabiya that the amount of the fine goes to thetreasury of the state, not as a compensation for the other party, stressingthat the system does not apply to the control of parents over devicesbelonging to their children in order to protect them or for guidance andcare.
But with the spouses, taking pictures and saving them in another mobile isa case of defamation, and the crimes in that case are meant to access andseize data in order to save it and publish it later.
The article specifies that the punishments target those who commitinformation crimes, namely tapping, intercepting or sharing through theinternet, without a justification or for threatening or extortion.
The crimes also involve illegal access into a website to alter the designof the site, damage it, modify it, occupy its address, invade privacy andinfringe on private life by misusing mobile phones equipped with camerasand similar acts.
The Saudi Royal Decree approving a system to combat cybercrime is intendedto help achieving information security, preserving the rights when usingthe internet, in addition to protecting public interest and morals.