MUSCAT: Oman’s Public Prosecution has issued a stern warning against the misuse of social media and digital technology, saying anyone who shares another person’s private photos, videos, messages or personal information without consent could face up to three years in prison.
Authorities said the country’s cybercrime law prohibits photographing, recording, storing, copying, transmitting or publishing a person’s images or videos without permission.
The restrictions also apply to the unauthorized recording or disclosure of private conversations and phone calls.
The Public Prosecution said publishing photos, videos, audio clips, comments or other information online with the intent to harm another person is a criminal offense, even if the material is authentic.
Officials stressed that legal liability begins the moment a user decides to share private content online, warning that seemingly harmless digital activity can carry serious legal consequences.
The prosecution also advised visitors, including travelers from the United Arab Emirates and other countries, to respect Oman’s strict digital privacy laws.
Under Royal Decree No. 61/2026, violators may face up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to 5,000 Omani rials, or both.
More read, YouTube tightens monetization rules for AI-generated content
Earlier, YouTube has announced stricter enforcement of its policies on artificial intelligence (AI)-generated videos to reduce the spread of low-quality, repetitive and potentially harmful content on the platform.
The company said the updated guidelines are intended to clarify its existing rules as more creators use AI tools to produce videos.
According to YouTube, the revised policy does not introduce new rules but provides clearer guidance on the types of AI-generated content that could face restrictions.
The platform said it will focus on videos that rely heavily on repetitive AI-generated material or contain content considered misleading, manipulative or harmful to viewers.
