In Cooperation with SANAD and Other Activists: ARTE Channel Airs Documentary Exposing Saudi Arabia’s Repressive Face Behind the World of Influencers
The French channel ARTE has aired a new documentary titled “Saudi Arabia: Behind the World of Influencers, Fear Reigns.” SANAD Human Rights Organization, along with other activists and observers, was among the key sources and contributors to the documented human rights situation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The documentary sheds light on the wide gap between the glamorous image the Saudi government seeks to promote globally and the repressive reality faced by citizens and activists inside the country. It highlights the systematic human rights violations hidden behind a polished façade of modernization and artificial openness.
The film focuses on how the Saudi authorities strategically employ influencers and social media celebrities in state-managed promotional campaigns to portray a shiny, sanitized version of life in the Kingdom. These influencers, rather than expressing their own views, reflect a tightly controlled official narrative aimed at marketing Saudi Arabia as a modern tourist destination. Meanwhile, anyone who deviates from this prescribed narrative faces systemic repression. The documentary reveals how this glossy image conceals a harsh reality of censorship, suppression, and intimidation, where dissenting voices are silenced through imprisonment, persecution, or veiled threats.
The documentary also emphasizes that fear in Saudi Arabia is no longer a personal sentiment but a fundamental pillar of governance. Authorities employ systematic methods to maintain control over the population—not only through threats of imprisonment or travel bans but also by punishing family members. This has created a suffocating atmosphere that stifles even the most basic forms of free expression.
The film dives into the expansive digital surveillance network that encircles citizens, where a single tweet or post can lead to interrogation, arrest, or prosecution. It also highlights the targeted harassment of women’s rights activists, who are often subjected to smear campaigns, arbitrary detention, and relentless surveillance.
The documentary deconstructs the “reform” narrative promoted by Saudi authorities, showing how measures like allowing women to drive or opening cinemas are used as cosmetic tools to appeal to international audiences, while the state’s repressive machinery remains firmly in place. Despite its relatively short runtime, the film powerfully conveys testimonies from activists and Saudi dissidents—both inside the Kingdom and in exile—who share their experiences of repression and their constant fear of speaking out.
SANAD contributed to the film’s development by providing documented reports and verified information, as well as facilitating contact with victims, witnesses, and experts, reaffirming its commitment to supporting all independent media efforts that reveal the true human rights situation in Saudi Arabia.
