CITC probes only on government request

RIYADH: Deputy Governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission for Legal Competition Affairs Deif Allah Al-Zahrani said the commission does not investigate any fake accounts, nor those aimed at fraudulent activity, unless the authorities concerned request investigation into a specific account or mobile number.
He said the commission's role is to provide technical support to the authorities and it does not initiate investigation without an official request.
As for the rise of fake accounts used to raise funds through fraudulent activities, he said the commission sets strict penalties for impersonation or defamation of others through such “information crimes,” as well as takes the initiative in raising awareness among users about cyber crimes, IT crimes and associated risks.
According to information crime regulations, the penalty for obtaining money through fraudulent behavior, such as creating a false account, using a false identify or incorrect information, is imprisonment for up to three years, a fine of up to SR2 million, or both.