Translated from Arabic.
Saudi law takes insults and defamation on social media seriously. Such acts usually fall under the Anti-Cybercrime Law, which criminalises invading private life, defaming others and causing them harm through information technology, and sets penalties that may include imprisonment, a fine, or either of them, at the court's discretion depending on the seriousness and circumstances of the act.
Alongside the public right, you retain a private right to claim compensation for material and moral harm. This can be based on the rules of tort liability in the Civil Transactions Law, provided the fault, the harm and the causal link between them are established.
Proof is the cornerstone. Screenshots alone may be useful, but they are stronger when supported by other evidence. We therefore advise the following:
1. Document every post with an image showing the account name and handle, the date of posting and the link, and save the links even if the content has been deleted.
2. Gather anything showing that the account belongs to that person, and identify who saw or reposted the posts so they can act as witnesses if needed.
3. File a report through the "Kollona Amn" app or at a police station, or submit a complaint to the Public Prosecution, so that the investigating authorities can investigate and request the necessary data.
4. Once the case is referred to the Criminal Court, you can claim your private right in the same case, or file a separate compensation claim through Najiz.
We stress the importance of not responding to the abuse in kind, as this may weaken your position and expose you to liability as well. It is also advisable not to delay filing the report, so that digital evidence is not lost, as platforms do not always retain data for long periods.
Note that anyone who reposts the offensive content may also face liability, depending on the circumstances. The outcome of the case depends on the strength of the evidence and the court's assessment, so no particular judgment can be guaranteed in advance.
The KSA Lawyers team recommends consulting a lawyer specialising in cybercrime cases to review the documents and evidence you have and to draft the report and the compensation claim correctly.