On Monday, Saudi Arabia announced ‘spying’ on your spouse’s phone is now a criminal offence potentially punishable by a year in jail and a hefty fine.

‘Married individuals planning to spy on their spouse in Saudi Arabia will need to think twice, because such an activity could potentially attract a fine of 500,000 riyals (N47m), along with a prison term for a year,’ read a statement released by Saudi Arabia’s information ministry.

The provision, part of a new anti-cyber crime law which came into force last week, is meant to ‘protect morals of individuals and society and protect privacy’, the ministry said.

The move comes amid a ‘steady increase in cybercrimes such as blackmail, embezzlement and defamation’.