Four famous social media influencers banned, fined more than $106000.
Licences of social media celebrities were also cancelled for violation societal values
Dubai: In a stern warning to social media influencers, Saudi Arabia's Media Regulatory Authority has imposed fines totaling SAR 400,000 (approximately US$106,000) on charges of sharing content deemed offensive and contrary to societal values.
The Authority has also suspended the licenses of four prominent social media celebrities sharing offensive content. The identities of the celebrities involved have not been disclosed.
The punitive measures include the suspension of their "Muwthak" licenses, a requirement for celebrities who engage in commercial advertising through their personal social media accounts.
#السعودية | الهيئة العامة لتنظيم الإعلام تغرم ٤ مشهورات بـ ٤٠٠ ألف ريال وتوقف تراخيص موثوق الخاصة بهن، بسبب التعري وظهورهن على منصات التواصل بمظاهر تتنافى مع القيم المجتمعية. مصادر #زيو1_زيو2_زيو3_زيو4 #وشوله_خسر_الهلال pic.twitter.com/sAa07C9OyN
— أخــر الأخـبــار (@latestnews2026) April 18, 2024
Strict monitoring
The decision to penalise these individuals comes as part of a broader initiative by Saudi authorities to monitor and regulate the online activities of influencers. It is also part of an attempt to curb instances of indecency and ensure that all social media content conforms to the values upheld within the kingdom.
Social media content
According tot the Saudi media reports, this is not the first instance of Saudi officials taking action against celebrities for their social media content. The regulatory body has a history of addressing violations that range from inappropriate advertisements to personal posts that contravene the cultural and ethical norms of Saudi society.