Saudi Arabia has intensified restrictions on free expression as public criticism grows over rising living costs and reduced access to welfare benefits, exposing the social strains created by the kingdom’s economic reform agenda. 

In December 2025, authorities fined nine people and ordered them to close their social media accounts for publishing what regulators described as “violating content.” 

The actions followed the arrest of six individuals in November, accused of “publishing information systematically to provoke public opinion.”

Those detained face prosecution under Saudi Arabia’s anti-cyber crime law, with penalties of up to five years in prison and fines reaching SR3 million ($800,000). 

The General Authority of Media Regulation did not specify which posts triggered the enforcement measures, but human rights groups say the actions coincide with a surge in online criticism over welfare eligibility changes.

Sanad, a UK-based Saudi human rights organization, described the arrests and fines as part of “escalating digital crackdowns,” arguing that regulatory agencies are increasingly being used to suppress critical voices. 

The group said the campaign reflects “a widening pattern of repressive practices” aimed at punishing individuals for expressing dissatisfaction with government policies.

Earlier in 2025, the media regulator convened social media influencers to brief them on new content guidelines, a move activists see as an effort to pre-empt dissent as reforms accelerate. 

The timing aligns with tightening eligibility rules introduced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, which oversees the labor market and administers welfare payments. As criteria have narrowed, many citizens have lost monthly benefits they previously received.

While authorities have not publicly named those arrested, the London-based group Alqst identified three individuals, including conservative singer Falah al-Masrede. 

In a video posted online in October, before his arrest, Masrede said his sister, an amputee, had been denied social security payments. 

“There are many things happening here in the country and we have the right as citizens to complain about things that bother us,” he said, adding that grievances were unsurprising when the “country gives billions” in foreign aid.

Officials reject accusations that the welfare net is being dismantled. 

A senior government official said the system remains a “central priority,” arguing that stricter criteria ensure support reaches those who “deserve that support,” and pointing to an appeals mechanism for rejected applicants.

Public anger intensified in October after tycoon Yazeed al-Rajhi, a cousin of the human resources minister, posted a video from a private jet criticizing dissent. 

“We should not accept any negative talk about our rulers, even in private settings,” he said. 

The comments triggered boycott calls against businesses linked to him, reflecting resentment toward perceived elite detachment from everyday economic pressures.

Analysts say the episode illustrates a narrowing boundary for acceptable criticism. 

Andrew Leber of Tulane University noted that while complaints about living costs or unemployment were once tolerated, recent arrests show that only “polite criticism” from select figures now appears acceptable. The result is a widening gap between ambitious economic reform and the space allowed for public expression.