Cybercrime Law: jail, fines for gambling and pornography offences

Muscat: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has issued a Royal Decree enacting a new Law on Combating Cybercrimes. It imposes strict penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for offences involving the misuse of information technology systems, particularly in relation to gambling activities and the creation, distribution or possession of pornographic content.

Under provisions of the Cybercrime Law, the use of websites, electronic platforms, or any information system for gambling activities is a punishable offence. The law stipulates a prison term of not less than one month and not exceeding six months, and a fine ranging from 100 to 1,000 Omani rials, or either of the two penalties.

In a separate provision, the law criminalises the use of information technology systems for pornographic content, including its creation, production, preparation, sending, broadcasting, publication or redistribution. Offenders are liable to a prison sentence of not less than one year and not more than three years, and a fine ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 Omani rials, or either of the two penalties.

The legislation further imposes harsher penalties in cases where the content involves children or persons lacking legal capacity. In such cases, the penalty is imprisonment for a term of not less than five years and not exceeding 15 years, in addition to a fine ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 Omani rials.

The same aggravated penalty applies to anyone who possesses, obtains, or directs such pornographic material involving children through information technology systems.

Legal provisions underline Oman’s strict stance on combating cyber-related offences and regulating the use of digital platforms, as part of broader efforts to safeguard society from illegal online activities and strengthen digital security frameworks.