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Sending Red Heart Emoji On WhatsApp May Land You In Jail In Saudi Arabia
DUBAI: A Saudi expert in cybercrime has warned the public that sending someone a red heart on WhatsApp can land the sender in jail.
If the sender is proven guilty, he might face a two to five-year prison sentence as well as an SR100,000 fine under Saudi law.
In a statement to the Saudi newspaper, Al Moataz Kutbi, a member of the Saudi Anti-Fraud Association, stated that sending “red hearts” on WhatsApp is a “harassment crime,” adding that the use of “some images and expressions during online chats may turn into a harassment crime if a lawsuit is filed by the injured party.”
He warned app users against engaging in uncomfortable or intrusive conversations with other users without their consent, as well as using “explicit expressions or red heart emojis.”
“Harassment is defined by the anti-harassment system as any statement, act, or gesture with a sexual connotation made by a person towards any other that touches his/her body or honours or infringes his/her modesty by any means, including modern technology.” “This includes (emojis) associated with sexual connotations in society, such as red hearts and red roses,” Kutbi explained.
He made it clear that if the situation is reported to competent authorities and the charge is confirmed against the perpetrator, the sender would be held accountable. In this situation, the suspect will face a fine of up to SR100,000 and/or a two-year imprisonment term, with the fine increasing to SR300,000 and five years in prison if the offence is repeated.
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