Qatar introduces stricter penalties for unauthorised photography under Cybercrime Law

The change, introduced by Law No. 11 of 2025, published in the Official Gazette on 4 August, adds article 8 (bis) to the existing Cybercrime Law No. 14 of 2014, and imposes penalties of up to one year imprisonment and a fine of QR100,000 (approx. US$27,000) for violations.

The new article criminalises the publication or circulation of images or video clips of individuals without their consent, even if captured in public areas. This includes online dissemination and applies regardless of whether the subject was aware that they were being recorded. The amendment significantly expands the scope of Qatar’s privacy protections, which previously focused on safeguarding private or family life from media exposure. Now, even casual or incidental recordings in public settings may be subject to legal scrutiny.

Sarah Khasawneh, a legal expert at Pinsent Masons in Qatar, said: “This development has wide-reaching implications for businesses and individuals alike. Entities involved in photography or videography, such as marketing agencies, event organisers and media outlets, must now reassess their content capture protocols.” 

“Social media influencers and content creators who frequently post public content may face legal risks if they do not obtain consent. Even retail and hospitality venues that rely on promotional photography must implement clear consent mechanisms,” she said.

Organisations will now need to look at how they capture and use images – both in their own premises or in public spaces – and establish they can effectively secure and provide evidence of consent. A key step will be updating privacy documentation and training staff on the new restrictions.

Based on the challenges of securing consent, particularly at large, public, events, various risk mitigation measures will also need to be taken by organisations in the country, including: clear consent language on tickets; visible signage at events or venues; establishing verbal or written consent for close-up or identifiable content; blurring or anonymizing faces in crowd scenes; and avoiding filming minors or vulnerable individuals without documented approval, Khasawneh said.