There has been an interesting development in the activities of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) with the creation of a specialized department to tackle cybercrimes.
The department conducts surveillance of cybercrimes pertaining to morality and ideology and tracks down those involved in them. Even though the department was created in early 2013, it has only been in the limelight for a while. It took one full year to complete studies with regard to how the department will function.
These studies were conducted under the supervision of academics and researchers from the computer engineering division, who are specialized in the security of information, networks and communication systems, in addition to electronic and legal matters. The Haia also sought the expertise of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in terms of technical, research and scientific consultancy services.
The Haia recently unveiled the first sign of the new department’s successful functioning. Haia sources told a local Arabic daily about surveillance of the accounts of a total of 735 holders of Internet and social networking sites who are allegedly involved in circulating obscene material. The department located the holders of these accounts and took the necessary measures against them.
Source:
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20140307197822
