Penalty for Online Blackmail in Saudi Arabia

Online blackmail penalty: the law and how it's applied

The Anti-Cyber Crime Law (Royal Decree M/17, 1428H) governs online extortion under its Article 3, and it's one of the most common issues we hear about in Jeddah consultations.

What exactly does the law criminalize?

Article 3 criminalizes "unlawful access to threaten or blackmail a person, to compel them to do or refrain from an act, even if that act would otherwise be lawful." This covers financial extortion (demanding money to avoid exposure), extortion using photos or video, and threats over social media.

The base penalty

Imprisonment of up to one year and/or a fine of up to SAR 500,000, at the court's discretion based on the severity of the act and resulting harm.

When is the penalty increased?

Under Article 8 of the same law, the penalty cannot be less than half the maximum in specific circumstances, including: the crime being committed by an organized group, targeting minors, exploiting a public office to facilitate the crime, or the offender having similar prior convictions.

Practical steps if you're a victim of blackmail

• Don't respond to any financial or other demand: compliance rarely ends the extortion and can encourage more of it
• Keep all evidence (screenshots, messages, numbers) without deleting or altering it
• File an immediate report through the "Kollena Amn" app or by calling the unified anti-extortion hotline 1909
• Avoid confronting the offender yourself or trying to negotiate with them directly

Can the penalty be reduced?

Yes: Article 12 of the law gives the court discretion to reduce the penalty or replace it with a fine only under mitigating circumstances, such as the defendant's confession and cooperation, or reporting the matter before actual harm occurs. A settlement between the parties doesn't extinguish the state's public right in the case, but it often leads the court toward a significant reduction in penalty.

This information is general, and handling a blackmail report correctly depends on the specifics of each case. For a confidential, immediate consultation in Jeddah, reach out to us on WhatsApp.

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