The Ministry of Interior has arrested a group of website supervisors who have been found to have connections with terrorist organizations. This is according to Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Hadlaq, Director General of the General Administration for Intellectual Security at the Ministry of Interior. He said all of them will stand trial. He added that a six-member committee from the ministries of Interior, Islamic Affairs and Culture and Information monitor deviant websites, whether they are Takfiri (accusing others of infidelity), extremist, pornographic and promoting drugs and gambling. Al-Hadlaq said the committee is authorized to block or close down these sites. The committee also stops those who break the law by unblocking these sites. He said some people see the closure of these sites as an infringement on freedom of expression. But he added that freedom means responsibility. Many websites tackle issues related to freedom in an irresponsible manner, said Al-Hadlaq. He said the committee has interrogated and detained the supervisors of Takfiri, extremist and pornographic sites, and those who have proven links to extremist organizations. All of them have been referred to court after being questioned. Instigation Dr. Eisa Al-Ghaith, a judge at the Ministry of Justice, said that these sites instigate opposition against certain individuals and institutions; publish articles accusing others of infidelity; and support terrorist acts. He said these websites edit the news to create sedition in the country and also promotes corruption and attacks on others. He classified these websites into three kinds: e-newspapers, chat forums and general websites. He said the supervisors of these websites violate the rules of the Islamic Shariah by approving attacks on others for personal reasons and by raising false allegations. In doing so they violate people's public and private rights. He stressed the importance of trying these supervisors and allowing people to claim their rights from them. Cyber crimes Al-Ghaith has proposed that a national center is set up to combat cyber crimes. The center will also draw up special legislation to deal with the issue. Fahd Al-Deghaithir, a columnist, said: “I believe that what is published on these websites is nothing but a way to settle scores. It also falls under so-called yellow journalism because they serve as a platform for disseminating deviant thoughts and intellectual corruption.” Saudi Gazette reported on May 18 this year that cyber crimes are on the increase in the Kingdom. It is estimated that the Kingdom is the target of as much as 40 percent of all cyber attacks taking place across the entire Middle East. Drugs and the Internet It was also reported by the newspaper on May 8 that a leading researcher in the Kingdom wants the security authorities to set up a special unit to monitor, control, analyze, investigate and arrest those who promote and sell drugs through the Internet. Dr. Fayiz Al-Shihri, Assistant Secretary General of the Anti-Narcotic National Committee, in his study entitled “Drugs and the Internet” also called for specific legislation to deal with the issue. In particular, he said the laws should target applications of the Internet which might be misused for the promotion and selling of drugs, spreading the culture of using narcotics and facilitating access to narcotics. International courts Al-Shihri said that the Kingdom should link up with international efforts to fight the drug menace. Anti-drug bodies should be able to sue internet drug traffickers, including those who host drug websites, in international courts. These bodies should also have the power to monitor the content and use of the Internet. In his study, Al-Shihri said that criminals are now using the Internet to link up with organized drug gangs, which means that tighter controls are needed. Al-Shihri said a special center for crime research should be set up to study the potentially harmful uses of the Internet. He said universities should establish scientific chairs to monitor deviant behavior and the abuse of modern technology. In his study, Al-Shihri also called for an awareness campaign to be launched to educate everyone, including the youth, on the security threat and social impact created by this type of cyber crime. Fine, penalties Referring to legal solutions, he said the Kingdom already has a package of well-defined laws to counter cyber crimes. Penalties for cyber crimes currently include jail for five years and a SR3 million fine, or both. He said that security agencies in the country need to get technical training on how to deal with drug trafficking on the internet, including ways to monitor public websites. Saudi Gazette also reported on April 5 this year of a plan by the Gulf nations to develop a unified data network to track down cyber crooks. The plan was mooted at the inaugural session of the 25th meeting of the GCC's criminal investigation bodies in Madina. The network would serve as a database of suspects and those who have criminal records. The existence of the plan was confirmed by Lt. General Saeed Bin Abdullah Al-Qahtani, Director General of Public Security. He said the use of modern technology and telecommunications by criminals pose a great challenge to those working in the field. GCC criminal investigation officers are being trained in the latest technology to deal efficiently with what he described as “crime waves”. “The improved information and intelligence sharing will create an accurate picture of crimes in the member states.” Al-Qhatani added that security authorities in the Kingdom had started questioning more than 100 terrorists who were rounded up in the country recently. He said the investigations would take some time. Technology of crime Brigadier Sheikh Mazen Bin Jrah Al-Sabah, who chaired a session at the meeting, said the unprecedented developments witnessed in the telecommunications field have turned the world into a small village. “This development is a two-edged weapon in the sense that criminals have benefited massively from this technology to develop crimes which some countries describe as cyber crime.” This placed an added burden on security agencies. “Without the cooperation of member states in legislation and (technology), we will never succeed in combating crimes in our countries. This is why it is important for collective work and cooperation between member states.”
