Our generation of today are more engaged in cyberspace compared from the past. Majority of Qatar residents rely on the internet for our news and to communicate, especially through social media websites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and etc. We connect through the internet on a daily basis.
With that being said, some netizens might be unaware of rules and regulations that we need to follow once we’re online. Here’s a run-down on social media usage when living in Qatar.
Things You Should Not Do on Social Media in Qatar
The Emir of Qatar has signed a law that protects users from being abused online and to promote social values. Here’s a list of highlights of violations and their corresponding fines.
- Spreading False News
Information about the state’s safety; public order and international peace that are shared or spread on the net are fined up to 500, 000 Riyals or up to 3 years of jail time. - Producing Pornographic Materials
Materials that contain pornographic material of a child using information technology will be fined 500,000 Riyals and up to 5 years of jail time. - Violation of Social Values or Principles
Posting news, pictures or videos in relation to the person or his/her family without their consent to the internet are fined 100, 000 Riyals and a 3-year jail time. - Slandering or Threatening A Person Online
Blackmailing, bullying or threatening another person on the internet are fined 100, 000 Riyals and 3 years of jail time.
Please be guided on the above-mentioned violations and their corresponding sanctions for your reference. It’s good to have proper etiquette when posting information online so let’s protect one another as well as respect each other.
Source of Social Media Violations and Fines [google translated from AL Raya Website]
Article (6)
Shall be punished by imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, and a fine of not more than (500,000) five hundred thousand riyals, or either of them, all of the established or manages a website through the information network, or an information technology device, to spread false news, with a view to exposing state safety or public order or internal or external security risk.
Punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, and a fine of not more than (250.000) two hundred and fifty thousand riyals, or either of them, both promoted or broadcast or publish in any way the news is correct with the same intent.
Article (7)
Shall be punished by imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years and a fine not to exceed (500,000) five hundred thousand riyals, both produced pornographic material of a child by means of information technology, or imports or sells or offers for sale, use, or traded, transferred, or distributed, sent or publication or broadcast or allowed for child pornographic material by means of information technology.
Punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, and a fine of not more than (250.000) two hundred and fifty thousand riyals, or either of them, both awarded for child pornographic material.
It shall not be considered in punishable crimes in this article with the consent of the child.
The children in the provision of this article are not all of the age of eighteen full calendar year.
Article (8)
Shall be punished by imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, and a fine of not more than (100,000) one hundred thousand riyals or either Whoever transgresses any of the principles or social values or publishing news or pictures or sound or visual recordings related to the sanctity of private life or family for people , even if it was true or infringement on others insult or slander, via the Internet or an information technology device.
Article (9)
Shall be punished by imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, and a fine of not more than (100,000) one hundred thousand riyals, or either of them all to use the Internet or an information technology device to threaten or blackmail to get him to do something or to abstain from.
Source: AL RAYA LINK ENG http://www.raya.com/news/pages/fa579432-3362-4ea0-9b89-cbdf69473813