In Saudi Arabia, individuals who unlawfully transfer or publish security camera recordings face hefty penalties under strict new regulations. The Ministry of Interior has made it clear that anyone caught violating the Law of the Use of Security Surveillance Cameras will be heavily fined.
Those found guilty of sharing or distributing recordings without authorization, or damaging surveillance equipment, could be fined up to SR20,000. A further penalty of SR500 will be charged for each camera or device that fails to meet required technical standards, while improper installation could lead to fines of SR1,000 per camera.
In addition, if individuals fail to retain security footage as required, they could face fines as high as SR5,000. The regulations, which came into effect on October 3, 2022, do not extend to cameras located inside private homes or residential complexes.
The law also stipulates that camera footage cannot be shared or published without prior approval from the Ministry of Interior, the Presidency of State Security, or a court order. Additionally, recordings must be preserved in their original form for potential investigations and handed over when requested by the authorities.
