Media Regulatory Authority Imposes Penalties on 9 Individuals Using Vague Charges Amid Escalating Digital Crackdowns
In a continuation of its policy of repression and enforcing a single narrative, the General Commission for Audiovisual Media (GCAM) issued a series of decisions through its Committees for Reviewing Violations of the Press and Publications Law—bodies that fall directly under the authority of GCAM and function as one of its executive arms tasked with enforcing its so-called media regulations. These decisions targeted nine individuals accused of publishing content deemed in violation of the Electronic Publishing Regulations.
The penalties included fines, mandatory content deletion, and even account removal. Until now, GCAM has not disclosed the identities of the nine individuals, nor has it explained the nature of the targeted content or the criteria used to define it as punishable.
GCAM justified its actions by invoking Article 15 of the Executive Regulations for Electronic Publishing, which relies on vague, broadly interpretable terms such as “disrupting public order,” “provocation,” and “incitement.” SANAD notes that these terms are routinely used to restrict freedom of expression and punish peaceful criticism.
GCAM also presented these decisions as if they were issued by a “neutral” or independent body, despite the fact that the issuing committee is directly subordinate to GCAM both administratively and procedurally. This portrayal appears intended to give observers the false impression of independence, while in reality, the committee is fully controlled by GCAM.
SANAD views these decisions as part of a widening pattern of repressive practices targeting critical voices, using regulatory agencies as tools to impose censorship and punish individuals for expressing their opinions.
Recent months have witnessed similar actions, including the referral of six citizens to the Public Prosecution in late November over posts criticizing recent amendments to the social security system—reflecting a recurring pattern of using media laws and regulations to suppress any expression that diverges from the official narrative.
It is notable that Saudi Arabia ranked 162 out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, amid the continued detention of 19 journalists and the near-total absence of independent media.
