Child Pornography on the Internet: A Comparative Study of Saudi Arabian and Scots Laws

Abstract

The hypothesis of this study is that despite religious and cultural differences between the two jurisdictions, Saudi law can be developed and learn from Scots law in relation to online child pornography crime. This thesis examines the differences between the Saudi Arabian and Scottish criminal legal systems with regard to child pornography, placing particular emphasis on the deficiencies in Saudi Anti-Cyber Crime law. The thesis explains the problem of online child pornography in Saudi Arabia and Scotland, analysing the existing legal framework in both countries as well as considering reasons for criminalisation referring to direct harm caused to children from child pornography and phenomena such as pseudo-photographs and virtual child pornography, which may cause indirect harm to other children. The thesis also refers to international legal regulations relating to the Internet and child pornography by which Scotland and Saudi Arabia are bound and draws recommendations for both countries on how to cooperate and share experience in order to better tackle the problem