Be careful what you send in WhatsApp – because simple red heart emojis could land you in jail!
According to a Saudi expert when it comes to cybercrimes, one must be very careful when sending red heart emojis on WhatsApp because the sender might land in jail.
In compliance with Saudi law, a sender who is found guilty of sending red heart emojis could be sent to jail for 2-3 years and a fine worth SR100,000.
It is said that sending red hearts in Saudi Arabia through WhatsApp is a ‘harassment crime’. Additionally, the utilization of “some images and expressions during online chats may turn into a crime of harassment if a lawsuit is filed by the injured party.”
Al Moataz Kutbi of the Anti-Fraud Association said that users must be cautious when entering a conversation because the other party might feel uncomfortable when being sent with ‘explicit expressions or red heart emojis’.
“According to the anti-harassment system, harassment is defined as every statement, act, or gesture with a sexual connotation made by a person towards any other that touches his/her body or honor or infringes his/her modesty by any means, including modern technology. This includes (emojis) associated with the sexual connotations according to the custom of society, such as red hearts and red roses,” he added.
The sender will then be held accountable once appropriate evidence will be sent to the local authorities. Charges will then be rendered to the offender.
To all Overseas Filipino Workers in Saudi Arabia, you must be wary when sending red heart emojis to avoid implications.
Source GulfNews
