Saudi Arabia will require all social media users and content creators who are monetizing their posts and stories to apply for and receive a permit from the Kingdom’s General Commission for Audiovisual Media (GCAM), a report in Arab News said.
Starting in October, every Saudi and non-Saudi content creator in the Kingdom who earns revenue through advertising on social media must first apply for an official permit from GCAM.
The fee for the permit, which lasts three years, is SR15,000 (roughly $4,000).
An Arab News report says that the new regulations “are being touted as legal protections, both for influencers and businesses wishing to advertise with them, so that rates and contractual obligations are standardized across the industry.”
Esra Assery, CEO at GCAM, told Arab News: “It’s more of a permit to enable the maturity of the sector. We want to help those individuals grow, but grow in a professional way so they can make a career out of (social media revenue)….The market is so unregulated. We’re not against influencers or those individuals. Actually, we want to enable them. If you check out the new bylaw, it protects them also, because the bylaw regulates their relationship with the advertisers.”
The report also clarifies that non-Saudi influencers and content creators must apply to the Ministry of Investment for a permit to work in the country, they can then apply for an influencer permit through GCAM. Additionally, non-Saudi residents must be represented by specific advertising agencies.
