Saudi Arabia: Adopted order requiring individuals to obtain license for advertisements

On 1 August 2022, the General Commission for Audiovisual Media of Saudi Arabia (GCAM) issued an order stating that individuals posting advertised content on online platforms, also referred to as “influencers", need to obtain an advertising license until 1 October 2022 to post such content. The licence costs USD 4’000 and will be available for three years. Furthermore, the GCAM stressed that to obtain the advertiser license, individuals would need to follow the Commission's rules on content, advertising and age classification. Upon request from the Commission, individuals will be obliged to provide data and documents regarding their posts and delete the content flagged by the authority. Finally, the GCAM stated that platforms should collaborate only with advertisers recognised by the Commission, linked to the influencer's license and licensed by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization.