Law on the Use of Surveillance Cameras and its Executive Regulation

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  • In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

  • Council of Ministers Decision No. (164) dated 1444/3/1 AH

  • The Council of Ministers

  • After reviewing in its session chaired by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the correspondence received from the Royal Court No. 13736 dated 25/2/1444 AH, including the telegram of His Royal Highness the Minister of Interior No. 130475 dated 18/6/1442 AH, regarding the draft Law on the Use of Surveillance Cameras.

  • After reviewing the aforementioned draft law.

  • After reviewing Royal Order No. (59766) dated 20/11/1439 AH.

  • After reviewing memoranda No. (1221) dated 23/7/1442 AH, No. (1355) dated 16/6/1443 AH, No. (2391) dated 25/10/1443 AH, No. (2718) dated 29/11/1443 AH, No. (2878) dated 25/12/1443 AH, and No. (647) dated 29/2/1444 AH, prepared by the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers.

  • After reviewing the minutes prepared by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs No. (984/43/M) dated 5/11/1443 AH.

  • After reviewing the minutes of the Council of Political and Security Affairs No. (M S T/55-11/43) dated 16/11/1443 AH.

  • After considering the Shura Council decisions No. (341/48) dated 20/12/1443 AH, and No. (362/50) dated 23/2/1444 AH.

  • After reviewing the recommendation of the General Committee of the Council of Ministers No. (1995) dated 29/2/1444 AH.

  • It is decided as follows:

    • First: Approval of the Law on the Use of Surveillance Cameras, in the attached form.

    • Second: The Ministry of Interior - in cooperation with the Presidency of State Security, the Saudi Data and AI Authority, and other relevant entities - shall develop a timetable to determine the deadlines for obligating each category covered by the provisions of the law - referred to in paragraph (First) of this decision - to install surveillance cameras and devices and comply with the provisions of the law.

    • A draft Royal Decree has been prepared accordingly, its text is attached hereto.

  • Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

  • Royal Decree No. (M/34) dated 1444/3/7 AH

  • By the grace of Allah Almighty

  • We, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

  • King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

  • Based onArticle (Seventy) of the Basic Law of Governance, issued by Royal Order No. (A/90) dated 27/8/1412 AH.

  • Based onArticle (Twenty) of the Council of Ministers Law, issued by Royal Order No. (A/13) dated 3/3/1414 AH.

  • Based onArticle (Eighteen) of the Shura Council Law, issued by Royal Order No. (A/91) dated 27/8/1412 AH.

  • After reviewing the Shura Council decisions: No. (341/48) dated 20/12/1443 AH, and No. (362/50) dated 23/2/1444 AH.

  • After reviewing Council of Ministers Decision No. (164) dated 1/3/1444 AH.

  • We decree the following:

    • First: Approval of the Law on the Use of Surveillance Cameras, in the attached form.

    • Second: The Ministry of Interior - in cooperation with the Presidency of State Security, the Saudi Data and AI Authority, and other relevant entities - shall develop a timetable to determine the deadlines for obligating each category covered by the provisions of the law - referred to in paragraph (First) of this decree - to install surveillance cameras and devices and comply with the provisions of the law.

    • Third: His Royal Highness the Deputy Prime Minister, the Ministers, and the heads of the concerned independent agencies - each within their jurisdiction - shall implement this decree.

  • Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

Article 1

In this Law, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings assigned thereto, unless the context requires otherwise:
Law: Law on the Use of Surveillance Cameras.
Regulations: Implementing Regulations of this Law.
Ministry: Ministry of Interior.
Minister: Minister of Interior.
Committee: Committee for reviewing violations of this Law.
Surveillance Cameras: Any fixed or mobile device designed to record video footage in accordance with the provisions of this Law. This term shall not include cameras installed by individuals in private residential units and compounds.
Surveillance Camera Systems: Systems connected to surveillance camera devices for the purpose of monitoring, storing, and analyzing camera video footage.
Surveillance Camera Devices: Cameras, servers, and storage media linked to surveillance camera systems.
Storage Media: Containers used for the storage or transfer of information and the retrieval thereof when needed, including hard disks, flash memories, magnetic disks, cables, and servers.
Recorded Footage: Video footage captured by surveillance cameras and saved on storage media.
Operation Rooms: Monitoring and control rooms at the Ministry and the Presidency of State Security which are interlinked to the systems of the National Information Center.
Requirements Document: A document which includes the conditions and security requirements for the installation of surveillance systems and the general technical specifications of surveillance camera devices.

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Article 2

The provisions of this Law shall apply to the following:
1. Ministries and public agencies and institutions.
2. Oil and petrochemical facilities.
3. Power and water desalination plants.
4. Tourist accommodation facilities.
5. Malls and shopping centers.
6. Financial institutions, banks, and currency exchange and money transfer centers.
7. Residential buildings, including compounds and apartment buildings, according to the Requirements Document, the Regulations, and this Law.
8. The Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque as well as the Holy Sites.
9. Mosques.
10. Sports clubs and facilities and stadiums as well as public and private cultural facilities and youth centers.
11. Public and private recreational facilities.
12. Public and private health establishments, including medical cities, hospitals, and clinics.
13. Commercial warehouses.
14. Main roads and their intersections within cities.
15. Highways connecting cities and counties.
16. Fuel stations and gas sales outlets.
17. Public and private educational establishments.
18. Food service establishments.
19. Public means of transport.
20. Event and festival venues.
21. Places of economic and commercial activities.
22. Public and private museums as well as historical and heritage sites that receive visitors.
23. Any other sites, activities, or facilities that may be added by the Ministry.
The Regulations shall specify the places where surveillance cameras may be installed and the controls for protecting their devices, taking into account the privacy of individuals and the provisions of this Law.

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Article 3

The relevant government agency may not issue to an entity subject to this Law a license to engage in an activity or renew such license except after satisfaction of the requirements for the installation of surveillance camera devices, as specified in the Requirements Document.

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Article 4

1. Entities subject to this Law shall install and maintain surveillance camera devices and operate such devices around the clock.
2. Entities subject to this Law shall keep recorded footage for the periods specified in the Requirements Document. If a specific incident is reported, the relevant footage must be maintained without modification until the investigation is completed and must be submitted to the Ministry or the Presidency of State Security, as the case may be, upon request.
3. The Ministry shall classify the entities subject to this Law as follows:
a) High security entities, facilities, or properties. Such entities, facilities, or properties must connect their surveillance camera systems directly to the operation rooms via secure networks in accordance with the Requirements Document, subject to security needs.
b) Medium security entities, facilities, or properties. Such entities, facilities, or properties must connect their surveillance camera systems directly to the operation rooms via open communication networks in accordance with the Requirements Document, subject to security needs.
c) Low security entities, facilities, or properties. Such entities, facilities, or properties are not required to be connected to the operation rooms.
4. Security and military agencies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and residential buildings, including compounds and apartment buildings, shall be exempt from the requirement of connecting to the operation rooms referred to in paragraph (3) of this Article.

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Article 5

The manufacture, importation, sale, installation, operation, or maintenance of the surveillance cameras specified in this Law may not be carried out except after obtaining the required approvals from the Ministry, subject to the procedures specified in the Regulations.

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Article 6

1. Entities subject to this Law may not install surveillance cameras inside the following places:
a) Medical examination rooms, inpatient rooms, physiotherapy rooms, changing rooms, toilets, women's beauty salons and fitness centers, and residential units at tourist accommodation facilities.
b) Medical operating rooms and private places. The Regulations shall specify the entities covered by this paragraph.
c) Any other place specified in the Regulations, in accordance with the provisions of this Law.
2. The places covered by the provisions of this Law shall have conspicuous signage indicating that the area is monitored by surveillance cameras. The Regulations shall specify the specifications, number, and places of such signage.
3. Recorded footage may not be transferred or disseminated, except with the approval of the Ministry or the Presidency of State Security, as applicable; pursuant to a judicial order; or upon a request by the competent investigation authority.

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Article 7

The Ministry or the Presidency of State Security, as the case may be, may review the streams and recorded footage of surveillance cameras; keep a copy thereof and process and analyze their data if necessary and for security reasons, in a manner not inconsistent with relevant laws; and submit the same to the competent court and the competent investigation authority, upon request.

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Article 8

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority shall, by utilizing artificial intelligence and data technologies, develop systems to process and analyze the streams and recorded footage of surveillance cameras, and enable the Ministry or the Presidency of State Security, as the case may be, to use and benefit from such systems in accordance with relevant laws. This Article shall be implemented in accordance with applicable laws.

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Article 9

1. Violations of the provisions of this Law shall be detected and recorded in reports in accordance with the procedures specified in the Regulations.
2. Employees, to be named pursuant to a decision by the Minister, shall detect and record violations of the provisions of this Law. The Regulations shall specify the work procedures of said employees in accordance with the provisions of this Law.

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