TL; Dr:
Queue The cybercrime law has been amended, which is a period of up to one year and a fine of QR100,000, which especially to violate a person’s privacy by publishing or sharing their images or videos without consent through digital platforms.- The law immediately effectively effectively effective on publication in the official gazette, which aims to strengthen individual privacy security amid increasing concerns on sharing unauthorized online content.
- This amendment complements Qatar’s comprehensive individual data privacy protection law (law number 13 of 2016) that determines detailed obligations and security for personal data processing in the country.
A new legal amendment published in Qatar’s official gazette (version number 20, August 4, 2025) shows the difficult punishment to violate the privacy of individuals, especially without their consent, especially targets unauthorized publication or circulation of images or videos of a person, especially online. The amendment was approved by Law number 11 of 2025 (combining cybercrime in Article 8 BIS in 2014 law number 14 of 2014), Amir, His Majesty Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
Major provisions:
- Criminal punishment:
Offenses who publish, broadcast or share images or video clips of individuals in public places, without or not allowed by law in circumstances (eg through internet or any information technology), have to face imprisonment up to one year, fines up to QR100,000, or both.
- scope:
The law especially addresses digital and online violations, covers any type of publication through information network or information technology. - Immediate effect:
The law is applicable from the date of publication in the official Gazette (August 4, 2025).
Legal Text (Article 8 BIS):
“Decorated by imprisonment for a period not more than a year, and not more than a fine (100,000) (one hundred thousand katri riyal, or from any of these two punishments, to anyone who violates the privacy of individuals, while they violate the confidentiality of another person, while they violate the confidentiality of individuals.,
Context:
- This remedy strengthens privacy rights in Qatar, which responds to increasing concerns about images, videos and unauthorized use of personal data.
- It is part of a comprehensive legal framework on personal data security, including heavy fines for companies and data controllers (up to QR 5 million for some serious violations under other laws), but the punishment targets individual violations of privacy especially in public and digital places.
Qatar now imposes a QR100,000 fine in jail for a year and for anyone, which is found guilty of privacy violations for anyone, especially even in public places, related to online sharing of photographs or videos of people without their consent. The law immediately came into effect on publication and applies to all digital platforms and technology-based distribution.
Fasting
- 1. What is a penalty for violating privacy in Qatar under the new law?
Criminals face imprisonment for one year and/or QR100,000 to share images or videos without consent. - 2. Does the law apply only to online violations?
Yes, it specifically targets unauthorized publication or images/videos through internet and other digital technologies. - 3. When did the new privacy violation law come into force?
The law came into effect on August 4, 2025 immediately after being published in the official Gazette. - 4. Which law does this amendment related to?
It amends Article 8 of the existing Cyber Crime Act (law number 14 of 2014), which combines the provisions focused on privacy protection. - 5. Is this different from Qatar’s personal data privacy protection law?
Yes, it complements the more comprehensive data protection law (law number 13 of 2016) while addressing comprehensive data privacy issues.
