Online safety & content laws in Kuwait (2026)

Legal framework

Law No. 63/2015 on Combating Information Technology Crimes; Law No. 8/2016 on Electronic Media; CITRA (Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority) content-blocking and data-privacy regulations

Key points: internet & online safety in Kuwait

1. 01Cybercrime Law (2015)

   Law No. 63 of 2015, in force from January 2016, criminalises hacking, online fraud, and spreading 'misleading information', but Articles 6-7 also penalise online criticism of the Emir, the judiciary, public order, or public morals, provisions condemned by HRW, Article 19 and SMEX as incompatible with freedom of expression.

   hrw.org article19.org smex.org

2. 02Electronic Media Law (2016)

   Law No. 8 of 2016 requires all electronic news services, blogs and web-based publications to obtain a government licence (renewable every ten years; applicants must be Kuwaiti citizens aged 21+). Platform managers bear direct legal liability for any prohibited content published on their platforms.

   kuna.net.kw tamimi.com kuwaittimes.com

3. 03ISP-level content filtering via CITRA

   CITRA directs ISPs to block websites that violate public morals, Islamic faith teachings, or national security. Requests to block or unblock content are processed by CITRA, giving the regulator broad administrative censorship authority without requiring a court order for each block.

   citra.gov.kw moi.gov.kw

4. 04Telecom data-privacy rules (2024)

   CITRA Decision No. 26 of 2024 (in force 1 January 2025) updated the Data Privacy Protection Regulation, imposing consent, transparency, security, and breach-notification obligations on licensed telecom and internet service providers. This is sector-limited and does not constitute a general online-safety or platform-safety regime.

   practiceguides.chambers.com tamimi.com

5. 05Proposed comprehensive Media Law

   A draft omnibus Media Law is under active review by Kuwait's government as of 2025-2026. It would consolidate existing print, broadcast and electronic-media statutes, introduce influencer-advertising licensing requirements, and strengthen content-compliance obligations, but has not yet been enacted.

   tamimi.com gulfnews.com

6. 06No dedicated age-verification or DSA-style platform-safety framework

   Kuwait has no stand-alone age-verification mandate for online services and no EU DSA- or UK OSA-equivalent imposing systematic risk assessment, algorithmic transparency, or minor-protection duties on large platforms. The Ministry of Interior's Cybercrime Directorate handles enforcement of existing online offences on a case-by-case basis.

   moi.gov.kw en.wikipedia.org

Sources

1. 1.hrw.org/news/2015/07/22/kuwait-cybercrime-law-blow-free-speech
2. 2.article19.org/resources/kuwait-new-cyber-crimes-law-restricts-expression-and-target
3. 3.smex.org/kuwaits-cybercrime-law/
4. 4.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2513694&Language=en
5. 5.tamimi.com/law-update-articles/kuwait-applies-electronic-media-law/
6. 6.kuwaittimes.com/law-no-8-of-2016-regarding-the-regulation-of-electronic-media/
7. 7.citra.gov.kw/sites/en/Pages/Home.aspx
8. 8.moi.gov.kw/main/sections/cyber-crime?culture=en
9. 9.practiceguides.chambers.com/practice-guides/data-protection-privacy-2026/kuwait
10. 10.tamimi.com/news/kuwait-considering-a-comprehensive-new-media-law/
11. 11.gulfnews.com/world/gulf/kuwait/kuwait-to-require-licences-for-influencer-ads-under
12. 12.tamimi.com/news/communications-and-information-technology-regulatory-authority-h
13. 13.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media_age_verification_laws_by_country