Saudi launches Mawthooq for social media users
Saudi Arabia has launched the Mawthooq, or “verified” programme for social media users. It allows people to obtain licenses to post advertisements on social media, the General Commission for Audiovisual Media announced on Sunday.
By visiting the commission’s website, people can apply for a license, valid for three years, for 15,000 Saudi riyals ($4,000) provided they adhere to the government’s content regulations and use an account registered with the commission.
The move aims to “regulate the advertising and digital content sector” in the kingdom.
Current legislation covers abuses of social media. Defamation of “individuals, companies’ products or brands”, and filming people without their consent are punishable offences under the commission and e-commerce council laws. Non-Saudis are prohibited from posting advertisements on social media without a license. Saudi law bans non-Saudis from working without a license.
