Decree-Law No. 102 of 2026 Promulgating the Media Regulation Law

Decree-Law No. 102 of 2026
Promulgating the Media Regulation Law

Articles of Promulgation

Article One

The provisions of the attached Law on the Regulation of Media shall apply.

Article Two

The Competent Minister shall issue the Executive Regulations of the attached Law within six months from the date of publication of this Decree-Law in the Official Gazette, and shall also issue the resolutions necessary for implementing its provisions.

Article Three

Owners of the Media Activities referred to in the attached Law that exist when it comes into force shall regularise their status in accordance with its provisions within six months from the date of issuance of the Executive Regulations.
Failure to regularise status within that period shall result in the cancellation of the licence.

Article Four

Law No. (3) of 2006 on Publications and Publishing, Law No. (61) of 2007 on Audiovisual Media, and Law No. (8) of 2016 Regulating Electronic Media are hereby repealed, as is every other provision that conflicts with the provisions of the attached Law.

Article Five

The Ministers, each within his own competence, shall implement the provisions of this Decree-Law, which shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall come into force six months after the date of its publication.

Media Regulation Law

Chapter One – Definitions

Article 1

For the purposes of applying the provisions of this Law, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings assigned to each of them:
1- Competent Ministry: the Ministry of Information.
2- Competent Minister: the Minister of Information.
3- Competent Authority: the General Department for Media Regulation.
4- Authority: the Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority.
5- Media Activities: any activity relating to the production, transmission, distribution, printing, publication, broadcasting, rebroadcasting or sending of Media Content, whether written, audio, visual or digital, and making it available to the public through the media, whether such activities are carried out for consideration or free of charge, as set out in Article (4) of this Law.
6- Publication: any writing, drawing, picture or utterance, whether on its own or accompanied by music or by any other means of expression, where it is recorded on a medium by traditional means or by any other means, or stored in storage, magnetic, electronic or other storage containers, and prepared for Circulation for consideration or free of charge by a licensed media outlet or a professional media activity.
7- Electronic Newspaper: any website, platform or Electronic Media Outlet that is managed professionally or institutionally and provides electronic content comprising news, topics, articles or multimedia of a journalistic or media nature, whether such content is published at regular or irregular intervals.
8- Licensee: the natural or legal person who is permitted to carry on any of the Media Activities in accordance with the provisions of this Law.
9- Printer: the natural or legal person who, himself or through others, reproduces Publications by means of the machines or devices he uses for that purpose.
10- Circulation: selling the Publication, offering it for sale or distribution, or affixing it to any medium such as shop fronts, walls or otherwise, so as to make it, in any manner whatsoever, available to a number of persons, whether for consideration or free of charge.
11- Publisher: the natural or legal person who undertakes the task of preparing the Publication for publication and producing it, or who undertakes its distribution and Circulation.
12- Print Newspaper: any newspaper, magazine or other paper publication issued periodically under a single name at regular or irregular intervals, even if it is merely a translation of, or a reproduction from, other publications.
13- Editor-in-Chief: the person responsible for, and exercising actual supervision over, the newspaper and its contents, pursuant to an assignment to that effect from the Licensee authorised to issue it.
14- Deputy Editor-in-Chief: a person who fulfils the conditions required of the Editor-in-Chief, and who shall be the person responsible for, and exercising actual supervision over, the newspaper and its contents in the absence of the Editor-in-Chief.
15- Writer: any person who writes for a printed or electronic newspaper on a regular or irregular basis.
16- Editor: any professional journalist who works in editing the newspaper, whether as a correspondent, news analyst, investigative journalist, translator, illustrator or photographer.
17- Correspondent: the natural person who conveys news to and from the media outlet or news agencies.
18- Legal Representative: the natural person who represents the media outlet before the Competent Ministry.
19- Audiovisual Media: any publication, broadcasting, rebroadcasting, or television, radio, telephone, electronic or other similar transmission that reaches the public or certain categories thereof by signals, images, sounds, drawings or writings that are not in the nature of private correspondence, by means of stations, channels, waves, satellites, cable technology and other modern technologies and the international information network (the Internet).
20- Broadcasting Licence: the permission granted to the licence applicant to establish and operate a Channel under the conditions specified in accordance with the form prepared for that purpose, as set out in the Executive Regulations.
21- Channel: a facility equipped with satellite or terrestrial, visual or audio broadcasting equipment, operating through the use of specialised transmission equipment.
22- Frequency: the allocated band of electromagnetic waves, whether visual or audio, that is transmitted through space and used in Broadcasting or Rebroadcasting operations.
23- Broadcasting: the transmission of visual or audio works or programmes by means of electromagnetic waves via satellites, aircraft of all kinds or any other means, whatever their description or nature, enabling the public to receive them through technical means, by whatever name called.
24- Radio Station: a device or set of devices for transmission or reception, or a system comprising a set of such devices, including auxiliary devices, located at a specific site for the provision of radiocommunication, radio astronomy or broadcasting services.
25- Rebroadcasting: receiving satellite channels broadcast abroad and then rebroadcasting them within the State of Kuwait by means of modern technology via satellites or other means, enabling the public to receive them within Kuwait.
26- Programmes: visual or audio material of all kinds, or any part thereof, broadcast by the Licensee to the public.
27- Electronic Media: the activity that involves the publication or broadcasting of media materials, models or services with electronic content that are produced, developed, updated, circulated, broadcast, published or accessed through the international information network (the Internet) or any other communications network.
28- Electronic Media Outlet: the electronic page, link, website or application, or the account on Social Media Platforms, through which a regular professional or commercial media activity is carried on for the purpose of news coverage, analysis of events, or the production, publication or display of media or advertising content to the public, which is broadcast under a specific name, has a specific address or Domain Name or a digital identifier, and is accessed through the international information network (the Internet) or any other communications network. A website, application or account created by an establishment for the purpose of introducing itself or its activity, providing its services or selling its products or services electronically shall not be deemed an Electronic Media Outlet, unless it is dedicated or used, wholly or partly, to carry on a regular advertising activity exceeding what is necessary to introduce the establishment or to display its products or services for the purpose of sale or provision of the service.
29- Owner of an Electronic Media Outlet: the natural or legal person to whom the website or the Electronic Media Outlet is proven to belong.
30- User of an Electronic Media Outlet: any person who uses an Electronic Media Outlet, even if he is not its owner.
31- Responsible Manager: the natural person appointed by the owner of the website or the Electronic Media Outlet, who shall be responsible before the administrative and judicial authorities for the content of the website or the Electronic Media Outlet.
32- Domain Name: the domain registered on the international information network (the Internet) or any other communications network, through which websites are accessed or located.
33- Social Media Platforms: the websites and electronic applications that are accessed via the Internet through an account created on the platform, for viewing, displaying, publishing or broadcasting any content, and which shall be specified by a resolution of the Competent Minister.
34- Agreement: what is agreed between the Licensee or his representative and the provider of the service or goods or his representative, in consideration of the Licensee carrying out the advertising.
35- Disclosure: the obligation to include in Media Content containing promotion or advertising a statement expressly and clearly indicating that it is promotional or advertising material. This obligation shall rest upon the Promoter and the Advertiser, and upon every natural or legal person having an interest in the promotion or advertising.
36- Promoter or Advertiser: any natural or legal person to whom the specifications, standards, conditions and controls specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law apply, and who carries on a professional or commercial activity consisting of creating, producing, publishing or broadcasting commercial, promotional or marketing media or advertising content to the public, for the purpose of promoting or marketing persons, products, services or commercial events, whether for his own account or for the account of third parties, for consideration or free of charge, and in any form whatsoever. Any natural or legal person for whose account or benefit advertising is carried out shall be deemed to have the same status, in accordance with the controls specified by the Executive Regulations.
37- Electronic Commercial Media or Advertising Services: the activity consisting of producing, publishing or broadcasting media or advertising content on a regular professional or commercial basis, through an Electronic Media Outlet, for the purpose of promoting works, services, products, business or persons, via the international information network (the Internet) or any other communications network, for consideration or free of charge. This shall not include what the nature of the establishment’s website, application or account requires in terms of introducing the establishment or its activity, providing its services or displaying its products or services for the purpose of sale or provision of the service, unless the published content takes on a regular advertising character exceeding that.
38- Electronic: anything relating to information technology and having electrical, digital, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic or other similar capabilities, whether wired or wireless, and any technologies that may be developed in this field.
39- Website: a place for making information available on the Information Network through a specific address.
40- Information Network: a connection between more than one information technology communications system for obtaining and exchanging information.
41- Electronic Publishing: the transmission, broadcasting, sending or receiving of Electronic Media activities through the international information network (the Internet) or any other communications network, using electronic devices or applications of whatever nature and other modern technological means, for the purpose of public circulation.
42- Electronic Data: data having electronic characteristics in the form of texts, symbols, sounds, drawings, images, computer programs or databases.
43- Electronic Content: textual, audio or visual content, whether still, moving or multimedia, including any combination of the foregoing, which is developed, produced, updated or circulated by electronic means, or any type of content that has been converted into electronic form, and which is published or accessed through the international information network (the Internet) or any other communications network.
44- Blocking: preventing access to the website, the Information Network, the electronic system, the electronic platform or the means used.
45- Appearance Ban: prohibiting participation in Media Content in any visual, audio, written or technical form, whether directly or through an intermediary, including presenting programmes, managing or creating pages or accounts, or interacting publicly with the audience.
46- Media Content: textual, audio or visual information and data that are created and published, broadcast, rebroadcast, circulated, displayed or sent through various media or technical means or activities, such as artificial intelligence.
47- Unlawful Media Content: any Media Content in any form whatsoever – textual, audio or visual – that is created, published, broadcast, rebroadcast, transmitted or circulated by any media or technical means, such as artificial intelligence or otherwise, and that is in violation of the provisions of the laws in force in the State of Kuwait and constitutes a crime punishable under the provisions of those laws.
48- Technical Broadcasting and Rebroadcasting Services: the management and operation of satellite channels, and the provision of the equipment, devices and technical means for the establishment and construction of towers and the installation of the equipment, devices and stations necessary for broadcasting operations for satellite channels licensed to broadcast and for rebroadcasting companies.
49- Audiovisual Works: any artistic, literary, scientific or other work of an audio or visual nature, or of a live audiovisual nature, or any writing recorded or fixed on tapes or discs or by any other technological means.
50- Artistic Production: the production, copying, filming, recording, renting, displaying, selling or exploitation by any other means of Audiovisual Works, or the establishment, management and renting of television and radio studios.
51- Cinemas: a facility prepared to receive the public without discrimination, for consideration or free of charge, to watch cinematographic films, containing a hall or a number of halls, each equipped with a large screen of standard proportions, stereophonic sound equipment and a machine or equipment for projecting films.
52- Cinematographic Film: a moving picture embodied in the form of an audio, visual or audiovisual work fixed or recorded on tapes (3.5 m) and the like, or on compact discs or other magnetic or electronic storage media, or digital devices, or any other modern technological means, whatever its subject matter, content or duration, which is viewed by the public on large screens called cinemas or on the small screen (television and the like).
53- Public Concerts: artistic, vocal or musical concerts held in places or facilities prepared to receive the public, or certain categories thereof, without discrimination, for consideration or free of charge.

Article 2

Freedom of opinion is guaranteed, and every person has the right to express his opinion and to disseminate it orally, in writing or otherwise, without prejudice to rights and freedoms and within the limits prescribed by law for the protection of public order and public morals, respect for the rights, dignity and reputation of others, and the preservation of national security and national unity.

Article 3

Freedom of the press, printing, publishing and the media is guaranteed and shall be regulated by the provisions of this Law. The Media Activities provided for in this Law, and the books and publications displayed at book fairs organised by the Competent Ministry, shall not be subject to any prior censorship. The activity of screening cinematographic films, and books and other non-periodical publications printed or published within the State of Kuwait, shall be subject to prior approval from the Competent Ministry before being screened, printed, circulated or published, all in accordance with the conditions, controls and procedures specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.

Chapter Two – Media Activities and Provisions Relating to Their Licences

Article 4

The following Media Activities shall be subject to the provisions of this Law:
1- Printing of the Holy Quran, the Prophetic biography (Sirah), specialised books and general books.
2- Periodical and non-periodical publications.
3- Print Newspapers and Electronic Newspapers.
4- Satellite radio and television channels.
5- Promotion and advertising.
6- Artistic Production.
7- Cinemas.
8- Holding Public Concerts.
9- Technical Broadcasting and Rebroadcasting Services.
10- The following Electronic Media Outlets: (a) electronic publishing houses, (b) electronic news agencies, (c) news services, (d) electronic journalism, (e) electronic websites or media outlets, (f) Electronic Commercial Media or Advertising Services, (g) the websites of Print Newspapers and of visual and audio satellite channels.
The Executive Regulations of this Law shall specify other Media Activities and the necessary controls and conditions, in coordination with the government entities concerned in this regard.

Article 5

A natural person may, himself or through a sole proprietorship owned by him, obtain a licence to carry on any of the Media Activities set out in this Law – except for the activities of Print Newspapers and satellite radio and television channels – after fulfilling the following conditions:
a- He shall be a Kuwaiti national who has attained twenty-one years of age and has full legal capacity.
b- He shall be of good conduct and reputation, and no final judgment shall have been issued against him for a felony or for a misdemeanour involving dishonour or breach of trust, unless he has been rehabilitated.
c- He shall hold the necessary academic qualification, and the Executive Regulations shall specify the level of qualification according to the media activity for which a licence is sought.
d- Any other conditions specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.
A licence to carry on any of the Media Activities set out in this Law may be issued to companies and investment entities after the following conditions have been fulfilled:
a- It shall be a sole proprietorship or one of the companies provided for in Law No. (1) of 2016 Promulgating the Companies Law referred to above, or one of the investment entities permitted to carry on activity in the State of Kuwait in accordance with the provisions of Law No. (116) of 2013 referred to above.
b- The practice of the media activity shall be one of the activities of the legal person.
c- The two conditions (b, c) of the conditions required of a natural person provided for in the first paragraph of this Article shall be fulfilled by the partners or the members of the Board of Directors, as the case may be.
d- Any other conditions specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.
Without prejudice to the professional, technical and regulatory conditions and controls prescribed under this Law, the provisions of Law No. (116) of 2013 referred to above shall be observed, with respect to investment entities licensed in accordance with that Law, as regards the legal form of the entity and ownership percentages. The Executive Regulations shall, after coordination with the Direct Investment Promotion Authority, specify the controls and procedures necessary for the application of the provisions of this paragraph.

Article 6

The Competent Ministry shall issue the licence required to practise the Media Activities set out in this Law, in accordance with the following controls and conditions:
a- The application shall be submitted on the form prepared for that purpose.
b- The application submitted shall contain all the data required for the issuance of the licence and the documents that shall be attached to applications for licensing, renewal and transfer of ownership, as specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.
c- The applicant shall not have previously had a licence issued to him suspended or revoked, or had an establishment of his connected with a media activity closed, unless the grounds for the suspension or revocation have ceased to exist.
d- The necessary approvals shall be obtained from the relevant entities within and outside the Competent Ministry.
e- The fees prescribed for each activity shall be paid, as specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law, up to a maximum of ten thousand Kuwaiti dinars.
The term of the licence shall be five years, renewable at the request of the Licensee and with the approval of the Competent Ministry.
The Executive Regulations of this Law shall set out the procedures and rules governing the issuance of licences for Media Activities and the practice of the licensed activity, and any other controls and conditions.

Article 7

The Competent Ministry shall issue a decision on applications for licences for the Media Activities set out in this Law within sixty days from the date of submission of the application, provided that the application satisfies the conditions; if that period lapses without a decision being issued, the application shall be deemed accepted.
In the event that the application is rejected, the parties concerned may file a grievance against the rejection decision with the Competent Minister within a period of sixty days from the date of the rejection decision; if a period of sixty days lapses without a decision being issued, the grievance shall be deemed rejected, and they may thereafter challenge the rejection decision before the competent Administrative Court.

Article 8

Before practising any of the Media Activities set out in this Law, the Licensee shall submit to the Competent Ministry, within three months from the date of notification of the approval, the following:
1- Evidence of his deposit with the treasury of the Competent Ministry of the financial security or bank guarantee, in the manner specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.
The Competent Ministry shall have the right to draw on the security or guarantee to satisfy any obligations owed by the institution, the company, the Editor-in-Chief, the Licensee, the Channel manager or the Responsible Manager, or any financial penalties, or the compensation due to it under a final judgment rendered pursuant to this Law.
The licence holder shall make up any shortfall in the guarantee within two months from the date on which he is notified thereof by the Competent Ministry.
2- The name of each of the Editor-in-Chief and his deputies, or the Channel manager and his deputy, or the Responsible Manager, or the cinema manager – as the case may be – accompanied by the written consent of each of them to accept the post.
3- The date of commencement of the licensed activity, provided that such date does not exceed six months from the date of submission of this statement; the commercial advertising licence shall be excepted from this.
4- The name of the printing press that will print the newspaper and a copy of the printing contract concluded with it, for the activity of print newspapers, or the premises where the activity is practised for the other licences; the commercial advertising licence shall be excepted from this, provided that the Licensee thereunder has a known premises.
5- Any other data or procedures specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.
If the Licensee fails to fulfil any of the obligations set out in the preceding Clauses, the licence shall be deemed revoked by operation of law without the need for any further action, and the Competent Minister may extend the time limit for a period not exceeding one month.

Article 9

The Licensee shall notify the Competent Ministry of any change in the data relating to the licence for the media activity, or to the persons responsible for it or employed in it, within three months from the date on which the change occurs.
If the licence holder wishes to terminate the activity or the licensed premises or to suspend it temporarily, or wishes to change the name or the premises of the establishment, he shall obtain the prior approval of the Ministry.
The Executive Regulations of this Law shall set out the procedures governing such notification and the decision thereon.

Article 10

Any lease of any licence provided for in this Law shall be deemed void, and the sale or assignment of the licence shall be deemed void if made without the prior approval of the Competent Ministry.
The heirs of the Licensee shall have the right, within six months from the date of death, to request the transfer of the licence to them, provided that one of them is responsible for management and satisfies the conditions required under the provisions of this Law; and they may request the transfer of the licence to another natural or legal person who satisfies the conditions prescribed for the grant of the licence, after obtaining the approval of the Competent Ministry; otherwise the licence shall be deemed revoked.
The Executive Regulations of this Law shall regulate the conditions and procedures for the transfer, sale and assignment of the licence.

Article 11

Without prejudice to any other grounds for revocation contained in this Law or any other law, licences shall be revoked by operation of law in the following cases:
1- If the licence holder does not commence his licensed activity within six months from the date of submission of the statement to the Competent Ministry as set out in Article (8) of this Law; the commercial advertising licence shall be excepted from this.
2- If the Licensee loses any of the conditions required for the issuance of the licence set out in this Law, or if it is established that the Licensee obtained the licence on the basis of false or forged data.
3- If the post of the Editor-in-Chief and his deputies, or of the Channel manager and his deputy, or of the Responsible Manager of the Electronic Media Outlet, or of the cinema manager becomes vacant, or any of them loses the conditions that he is required to satisfy, and the Licensee does not appoint a substitute who satisfies the conditions within the period prescribed by the provisions of this Law.
4- If the Licensee leases out the licence issued to him.
5- If the Licensee sells or assigns the licence without the prior approval of the Competent Ministry.
6- If the Licensee is a legal person and its legal personality ceases to exist for any reason whatsoever, unless the necessary procedures are taken with the Competent Ministry.
7- If the Licensee ceases to practise the activity for longer than the period specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.
8- If the term of the licence expires without a request for its renewal within three months from the date of its expiry.
The party concerned shall be notified of the revocation of the licence in any of the cases referred to.
Other than in the foregoing cases, licences for Media Activities may not be revoked except by a final court judgment rendered by the competent court or upon a written request from the Licensee.

Article 12

Without prejudice to the provisions of Law No. 1 of 2016 referred to above, the Competent Ministry shall appoint one or more auditors to audit and state the financial position of the accounts of companies licensed to publish newspapers or to broadcast satellite radio and television channels; and the Licensee to publish newspapers and to broadcast satellite radio and television Channels shall keep regular and separate records of the accounts of the newspaper and the satellite Channel and of their financial position, provide them to the Competent Ministry upon request, and enable the auditor appointed by the Competent Ministry to inspect them in order to prepare an accounting report on the results of his work, in accordance with the rules and controls issued by a decision of the Competent Minister.

Article 13

Without prejudice to the provisions of Law No. (24) of 1962 on Clubs and Public Benefit Societies referred to above, ministries and their administrative units, and public authorities and institutions, may each publish and distribute newspapers and magazines or establish and operate satellite radio and television channels; and public benefit societies, federations, unions and clubs may publish newspapers and magazines, after obtaining the approval of the Competent Ministry in accordance with the conditions and procedures specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.

Article 14

The Competent Ministry shall establish an electronic platform for registering all licences issued for the practice of Media Activities, which shall be linked with the competent authorities in the manner set out in the Executive Regulations.

Chapter Three – Controls on the Practice of Media Activities

Article 15

The Licensee to practise Media Activities shall comply with the following:
1- The decisions issued by the Competent Minister regarding the regulation of the conduct of the activity.
2- Not departing from the purposes of the licence.
3- The technical specifications approved by the Competent Ministry for the practice of the activity, as specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.
4- Providing the information and data requested from the Licensee by the Competent Ministry and the Authority.
5- Enabling the employees of the Competent Ministry and the Authority to verify the accuracy of the information and data provided, and providing them with all the facilities necessary in this regard, including access to all records and papers and the inspection of the devices and equipment relating to the practice of the activity.
6- Appointing a substitute – who satisfies the same prescribed conditions – for the Editor-in-Chief and his deputies, or the Channel manager and his deputy, or the Responsible Manager of the Electronic Media Outlet, or the cinema manager – as the case may be – in the event that the post of any of them becomes vacant or any of them loses the conditions that they are required to satisfy, within six months from the date on which the post becomes vacant; and the Licensee shall be responsible for the media activity until the substitute is appointed within the time limit specified in the preceding paragraph.
7- Any other obligations specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.
The Licensee, in practising the activity of satellite radio and television channels, shall also comply with the following:
1- Submitting a copy of the agreement contract with the satellite, the channels or any other technology through which the Channel or Channels will be broadcast or rebroadcast, and obtaining the necessary approvals from the Competent Ministry and the Authority.
2- Displaying the Channel logo during visual broadcasting and stating the name of the station and the Frequency used during the hours of audio broadcasting, and obtaining the approval of the Competent Ministry and the Authority before changing the name, the logo or the Frequency used.
3- Abiding by the rules and regulations issued by a decision of the Competent Minister and the Authority regarding the establishment, construction and regulation of towers and the installation of the equipment, devices and stations necessary for Broadcasting and Rebroadcasting works.
4- Complying with the technical specifications approved by the Competent Ministry and the Authority for Broadcasting and Rebroadcasting devices.
5- Keeping a register containing all the programmes broadcast by the Licensee for twelve consecutive months from the date of broadcasting, including the date and time at which they were broadcast.
6- Recording the entire broadcasting time and keeping the recording for a period of three months from the date of broadcasting, and enabling the competent employee of the Competent Ministry to inspect such recordings.
7- Obtaining the approval of the Ministry before changing the main language in which the programmes are broadcast or adding another language or languages to it.

Article 16

The Editor-in-Chief and his deputies, or the Channel manager and his deputy, or the Responsible Manager of the Electronic Media Outlet – as the case may be – shall publish any reply, correction or denial received by them from the Competent Ministry or other government entities or any legal or natural person whose name was mentioned or who was referred to in any writing, drawing or symbol in the newspaper, or in the programme or media material broadcast, or in the Media Content published, on the date specified by the entity concerned or the person concerned, in the same place of publication or broadcast and in the same manner, style and language, and with the same type and size of font and the same duration with which the material that is the subject of the reply, correction or denial was published or broadcast, provided that this shall be free of charge.

Article 17

The Licensee shall abide by the following Media Content standards:
1- Not offending the Divine Essence, the Holy Quran, the Prophets, the Companions of the Prophet or the fundamental tenets of Islamic Sharia, or insulting any revealed religion or other religious beliefs.
2- Not subjecting the person of the Amir of the State to criticism, defamation, ridicule, disparagement or any form of insult.
3- Not attributing any statement or act to the Amir of the State or the Crown Prince without a special written permission from the Amiri Diwan or the Crown Prince’s Diwan, as the case may be.
4- Respecting the system of government in the State, not subjecting it to any form of insult, and not calling for, inciting or promoting the overthrow or change of the system of government by force or by any other unlawful means.
5- Not harming the foreign relations of the State or insulting other states or their leaders, or publishing content that conflicts with the supreme interests of the State at the domestic and external levels.
6- Not stirring up sectarian, doctrinal or tribal strife, or subjecting any of the components of society to any form of insult, or inciting violence, hatred and terrorism, or calling for joining terrorist groups or promoting their ideas.
7- Not offending public morals, or publishing anything that encourages deviance, debauchery or prostitution or the practice of any unlawful activity.
8- Respecting the privacy of individuals and not infringing on private life, defaming, or offending the dignity of persons, their beliefs, their financial circumstances or their reputation.
9- Not publishing or circulating any content that exposes children to exploitation or abuse or violates their privacy, or shows them in situations or acts that are inappropriate to their ages or to religious and social values.
10- Not publishing or circulating any content that would incite or promote the commission of crimes, such as the use of or trafficking in narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, or that promotes gambling or trafficking in arms and explosives or trafficking in persons.
11- Exercising accuracy and not publishing, broadcasting or circulating false or misleading news or data, rumours, forged documents, or incorrect information that would harm the public interest or public order or spread terror among the people.
12- Not publishing or circulating any content that harms the value of the national currency or leads to undermining confidence in the national economy.
13- Not publishing any content relating to secret official communications, agreements or treaties before they are officially announced, or anything that the law provides is to be considered secret.
14- Not publishing the substance or content of works, Publications and Audiovisual Works, or parts thereof, which it has previously been decided not to authorise for publication or Circulation.
15- Any other standards specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.

Chapter Four – Provisions Relating to Newspapers and Publications

Article 18

No newspaper may be published except after obtaining a licence for that purpose from the Competent Ministry, in accordance with the conditions and procedures specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.
After obtaining the prior approval of the Competent Ministry, the newspaper may publish one or more supplementary editions on the same day on which the newspaper is published.

Article 19

Each newspaper shall have a general Editor-in-Chief who shall exercise actual supervision over the entire newspaper; the Editor-in-Chief may have one or more deputies to assist him, and editors-in-chief may also be appointed for specific sections of the newspaper, provided that they work under the general supervision of the Editor-in-Chief. The Editor-in-Chief or his deputy shall satisfy the following conditions:
1- He shall be of Kuwaiti nationality, have attained twenty-one years of age, and have full legal capacity.
2- He shall be of good conduct and reputation and shall not have been convicted by a final judgment of a felony or of a misdemeanour involving dishonour or breach of trust, unless he has been rehabilitated.
3- He shall hold a university degree or its equivalent, or have practised the profession on a regular basis for a period of not less than five years, provided that his educational qualification is not lower than the general secondary certificate or its equivalent.
4- Any other conditions specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.

Article 20

No person may establish, manage or operate a printing press, or open a shop for the sale or rental of publications or for carrying on publishing, distribution or translation activities, or establish a promotion and advertising office or an establishment for Artistic Production in the media field, except after obtaining a licence from the Competent Ministry, in accordance with the conditions and procedures specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.

Article 21

The Printer shall, before printing any Publication, submit a written notification thereof to the Competent Ministry, and shall state his name and address in that notification.
Books and other non-periodical publications may not be printed within the State of Kuwait, or circulated or published, except after obtaining a prior authorisation (approval) from the Competent Ministry. The application for authorisation shall be submitted accompanied by a copy of the Publication in the manner set out in the Executive Regulations of this Law, and the Competent Ministry shall issue its decision on the application within thirty days from the date of its submission having fulfilled its requirements. A decision of refusal shall be reasoned, and in the event of refusal the persons concerned may file a grievance against it with the Competent Minister within sixty days from the date of their notification of the decision; if a period of sixty days elapses without a reply, the grievance shall be deemed rejected, and they may thereafter challenge the decision of refusal before the competent court.
No periodical or non-periodical Publication may be printed, circulated or published unless the following are stated on the first or last page of the Publication:
a- The date of printing.
b- The name of the Printer.
c- The name of the Publisher.
d- The name of the author.
e- The title of the Publication.
The Printer shall deposit two electronic copies of that Publication with the Competent Ministry and the National Library of Kuwait before its Circulation and publication commence, in accordance with the conditions and procedures set out in the Executive Regulations of this Law.

Article 22

Without prejudice to Article (3) of this Law, publications coming from abroad may be brought in, and may also be circulated and sold, in accordance with the conditions and procedures specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.

Article 23

Foreign newspapers may not be printed within the State of Kuwait except after obtaining a licence from the Competent Ministry, in accordance with the conditions and procedures specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.

Chapter Five – Provisions Relating to Audiovisual Media

Article 24

No entity may carry on radio or television broadcasting and rebroadcasting operations except after obtaining a licence from the Competent Ministry, in accordance with the conditions and procedures specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law. Where the licence application is for several broadcasting channels, a licence shall be granted for each Channel separately.
The Competent Ministry shall coordinate with the Authority regarding the determination of the orbital space, the Frequency range and the cable channels through which broadcasting will take place.

Article 25

An applicant for a licence for audiovisual broadcasting operations shall appoint a general manager for the Channel as its Legal Representative before the Competent Ministry, other government entities and third parties, who shall be responsible for the management and operation of the Channel and for the material, programmes or news it broadcasts; and he shall appoint a deputy to the manager of the Channel to replace him in his absence.
The following shall be required of the manager of the Channel and his deputy:
1- He shall be of Kuwaiti nationality, have attained twenty-one years of age, and have full legal capacity.
2- He shall be of good conduct and reputation, and no final judgment shall have been issued against him for a felony or a misdemeanour involving dishonour or breach of trust, unless he has been rehabilitated.
3- He shall hold a university degree or its equivalent, or have experience in the media field of not less than five years, provided that his educational qualification is not lower than the general secondary certificate or its equivalent.
4- Any other conditions specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.

Article 26

Companies licensed to rebroadcast may undertake the publication or broadcasting of the news and news reports of the representatives, correspondents and delegates of foreign audiovisual channels and news agencies referred to in Article (40), from within the State of Kuwait to the channels and news agencies to which they belong, after obtaining a licence to that effect from the Ministry in accordance with the conditions and controls specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.

Article 27

Broadcasting and rebroadcasting equipment and devices may be possessed or imported after obtaining prior approval from the Competent Ministry and the Authority, in accordance with the standards and specifications specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.
Such equipment and devices shall not be released from customs except after obtaining the approval of the two entities referred to in this Article.
Any person who possesses the equipment or devices referred to before this Law comes into force shall apply to obtain the approval of the Ministry and the Authority within six months from the date it comes into force, and the use of such equipment and devices shall be prohibited if that approval is not obtained, and the Competent Ministry shall have the right to confiscate them in accordance with the procedures prescribed by law.

Chapter Six – Provisions Relating to Technical Broadcasting and Rebroadcasting Services

Article 28

The activity of providing Technical Broadcasting and Rebroadcasting Services may not be carried on except after obtaining a licence to that effect from the Competent Ministry, in accordance with the conditions and procedures specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.
The Licensee to carry on this activity may provide the technical means for the establishment and construction of towers and the installation of the equipment, devices and stations necessary for broadcasting operations.
It may also import, sell and rent broadcasting and rebroadcasting equipment and devices after obtaining prior approval from the Competent Ministry, in accordance with the approved technical specifications set out in the Executive Regulations of this Law.
The Circulation of the devices and equipment provided for in this Article shall be prohibited except after obtaining a licence from the Competent Ministry in accordance with the provisions of this Law.

Article 29

The Licensee shall be prohibited from providing any of the technical services relating to broadcasting or rebroadcasting, or from selling, renting or delivering any of the devices and equipment, except to a person holding a broadcasting or rebroadcasting licence; otherwise, it shall be deemed to be carrying on the activity of broadcasting or rebroadcasting without a licence.

Chapter Seven – Provisions Relating to Electronic Media

Article 30

Without prejudice to the provisions relating to the activity of Promoters and Advertisers and to any other activity subject to the provisions of this Law, the provisions relating to the licensing of Electronic Media Outlets provided for in this Chapter shall not apply to:
1- A personal electronic domain, website or account, where its use is limited to personal purposes and no regular professional or commercial media activity is carried on through it.
2- A website, application or electronic account established or managed by companies, establishments, investment projects or members of licensed professions, where its use is limited to introducing them or their activity, providing their services, or displaying their products or services for the purpose of sale, providing the service, or communicating with their customers, unless it is allocated or used, wholly or partly, to carry on a regular media or advertising activity exceeding what is necessary for that purpose.
In particular, the publication, broadcasting or republication of promotional or advertising content prepared or presented by a Promoter or Advertiser for the benefit of the establishment or its products or services, on the basis of an agreement, an assignment, or a financial or in-kind consideration or any other benefit, shall be deemed a media, advertising or promotional activity exceeding what is necessary for that purpose.
The Executive Regulations shall specify the bases and criteria necessary for the application of the provisions of this Article.

Article 31

Any person wishing to carry on, establish or operate any of the Electronic Media Outlets referred to in Article (4) of this Law shall obtain a licence from the Competent Ministry and any other licences specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.
As for Print Newspapers and audiovisual satellite channels licensed by the Competent Ministry that wish to establish an Electronic Media Outlet of their own, it shall suffice to submit a copy of the licence issued to them with the application.

Article 32

The ministries of the State and its institutions, public authorities, any other government entity, registered public benefit societies and the entities affiliated to them, and trade unions and federations established in accordance with the provisions of law, shall, before establishing their own websites and Electronic Media Outlets, notify the Competent Ministry thereof, specifying the Responsible Manager thereof, without the need to issue a licence to that effect, provided that this is in accordance with the controls specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.

Article 33

A Responsible Manager for the content published in the Electronic Media Outlets referred to in Article (4) of this Law shall be appointed to represent the media outlet before the Competent Ministry, other government entities and third parties. The following shall be required of the Responsible Manager:
1- He shall be of Kuwaiti nationality, have attained twenty-one years of age, and have full legal capacity.
2- He shall hold the general secondary certificate or its equivalent.
3- He shall be of good conduct and reputation, and no final judgment shall have been issued against him for a felony or a misdemeanour involving dishonour or breach of trust, unless he has been rehabilitated.
4- Any other conditions specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.
If the licence applicant is a natural person or a single-person company, he may be the Responsible Manager of the outlet if he satisfies the foregoing conditions.

Chapter Eight – Provisions Relating to the Activity of Promoters and Advertisers on Social Media Platforms

Article 34

Every Promoter and Advertiser, whether a citizen, a resident or a visitor, who carries on or wishes to carry on the activity of promotion or commercial advertising or marketing shall be subject to the provisions of this Law, where his content targets an audience within the State of Kuwait.
A Promoter and Advertiser may not carry on the activity of promotion and advertising, whether for consideration or without consideration, except after obtaining a licence to that effect from the Competent Ministry, as the case may be and in accordance with the conditions and controls specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.
By way of exception from the provisions of Articles (5, 6, 7) of this Law, an applicant for the promotion and advertising licence set out in the provisions of this Chapter shall be required to have attained eighteen years of age. The Competent Ministry shall issue its decision on the licence application of a Promoter or Advertiser set out in this Chapter, by acceptance or refusal, within sixty days from the date of its receipt, and the lapse of this period without a decision being issued shall be deemed a refusal. The term of the licence shall be two years and it may be renewed for another similar term or terms, provided that the renewal application is submitted to the Ministry at least two months before the expiry of the licence.
Licensed Promoters and Advertisers shall be registered on the electronic platform set out in Article (14) of this Law in accordance with the dates and data specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.

Article 35

The licensed Promoter and Advertiser shall comply with the Media Content standards provided for in Article (17) of this Law, particularly with regard to the protection of public order and public morals and the rights of third parties, and not publishing false or misleading news.
The licensed Promoter and Advertiser shall also be prohibited from infringing the privacy of individuals or using their names, images or data without a lawful basis.
However, where the content includes promotional or advertising material, the licensed Promoter or Advertiser, and any person having an interest in the promotion or advertisement, shall make express Disclosure thereof in accordance with the controls provided for in this Chapter and in Article (52) of this Law.

Article 36

The Competent Minister may, after coordination with the relevant entities, issue decisions regulating the content of licensed Promoters and Advertisers in terms of professional and ethical rules, methods of Disclosure, the protection of children and consumers, controls on reviews, trials, covert promotions, competitions and gifts, and the use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in the production of content.
Such decisions shall be issued consistently with the provision of Article (3) of this Law, and shall be applied as standards for subsequent accountability without requiring prior approval of the content.

Article 37

Without prejudice to the provisions of the laws in force, the administrative sanctions provided for in Clauses (1, 2) of Article (61) of this Law, which include the caution and the warning, shall apply to any violation of the provisions of this Chapter in accordance with the controls specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law. The imposition of the administrative sanctions referred to in this Article shall not prejudice the penalties or sanctions prescribed in this Law or any other law.
By way of exception from the provision of Article (11) of this Law, the Ministry may withdraw the licence of a Promoter or Advertiser in the event of his violation of the provisions of this Law, its Executive Regulations or the decisions regulating it, for a period not exceeding six months, renewable.

Chapter Nine – Provisions Relating to News Agencies and Correspondents of Arab and Foreign Newspapers and Channels

Article 38

Arab and foreign media may not carry on their work, or open offices and appoint correspondents, representatives and delegates on their behalf, within the State of Kuwait except after obtaining a licence to that effect from the Competent Ministry, in accordance with the conditions and procedures specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.

Article 39

By way of exception from the provisions of Articles (6 and 7) of this Law, the Competent Ministry shall issue its decision on an application for a licence to open offices and to accredit correspondents, legal representatives and delegates, by acceptance or refusal, within sixty days from the date of its receipt, and the lapse of this period without a decision being issued shall be deemed a refusal.
The term of the licence shall be two years and it may be renewed for another similar term or terms, provided that the renewal application is submitted to the Ministry at least two months before the expiry of the licence.

Article 40

Licensed Arab and foreign media, and their correspondents, delegates, representatives and office managers, shall, while carrying on their work, comply with the Media Content standards provided for in this Law.

Article 41

By way of exception from the provisions of Article (11) of this Law, the Ministry may warn the Legal Representative, the Correspondent or the person responsible for the Arab or foreign media outlet, and it may cancel the licence and close the office if it transpires that the news or information broadcast or published involves Media Content in violation of the provisions of this Law. The Executive Regulations shall set out the warning and the procedures followed for notifying it.

Chapter Ten – Provisions Relating to Artistic Production Companies

Article 42

Artistic Production activities may not be carried on except after obtaining a licence to that effect from the Competent Ministry, in accordance with the conditions and controls specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.

Article 43

The following activities shall be deemed Artistic Production activities:
1- The production of audio, visual and audiovisual publications fixed or recorded on tapes, discs or any other technological medium, or their recording, distribution, rental, circulation, offering for sale, or reproduction for the purpose of exploitation.
2- The production of Audiovisual Works, and their filming or recording, reproduction or conversion for the purpose of exploitation, or their showing, broadcasting or transmission, or their distribution, rental, circulation, sale or offering for sale.
3- The establishment, management and rental of television and radio studios.
4- Any other activities specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.

Chapter Eleven – Provisions Relating to Cinema Films, Cinemas, and Artistic, Musical and Singing Concerts

Article 44

Cinemas may not be opened except after obtaining a licence to that effect from the Competent Ministry, in accordance with the conditions and controls specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.

Article 45

The Licensee to open Cinemas shall appoint a manager for the cinema as its Legal Representative before the Ministry, other government entities and third parties, who shall be responsible for the management and operation of the cinema and for the films or material it shows. The following shall be required of the manager:
1- He shall be of Kuwaiti nationality, have attained twenty-one years of age, and have full legal capacity.
2- He shall be of good conduct and reputation, and shall not have been finally convicted of a felony or a misdemeanour involving dishonour or breach of trust, unless he has been rehabilitated.
3- He shall hold a university qualification or have experience in the media field of not less than five years, provided that his educational qualification is not lower than the general secondary certificate or its equivalent.
4- Any other conditions specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.

Article 46

One or more committees shall be formed by a decision of the Competent Minister or whomever he delegates, to be competent to issue licences and approvals and to examine matters relating to Cinemas, Cinematographic Films and Public Concerts. Their membership shall include persons of experience and specialisation from the Competent Ministry and other competent entities, and the Executive Regulations of this Law shall set out their competences, duties and scope of work.

Article 47

No Cinematographic Film may be shown in Cinemas, and no Public Concerts may be held or advertised, except after obtaining the approval of the competent committee, in accordance with the conditions and controls set by the Executive Regulations of this Law.

Article 48

Cinemas shall be prohibited from showing any clips or scenes from Cinematographic Films which the competent committee has previously decided to delete.

Article 49

Commercial advertisements and other advertisements may not be shown in Cinemas except after obtaining a licence, in accordance with the provisions of this Law.

Article 50

The equipment and devices required for Cinemas may not be imported except after obtaining the approval of the Competent Ministry, in accordance with the conditions and controls set by the Executive Regulations of this Law.

Chapter Twelve – Provisions Relating to Promotion and Advertising

Article 51

Without prejudice to the provisions regulating the licensing of the activity of promoters and advertisers set out in this Law, the Promoter or Advertiser and practitioners of Media Activities subject to the provisions of this Law shall be prohibited from publishing, broadcasting or displaying any promotion or advertisement of a commercial, marketing or promotional nature, whether direct or indirect, by any means whatsoever, for persons, products, services, shops, companies, exhibitions or commercial events, or from holding competitions or offering or distributing gifts, whether for consideration or without consideration, except after obtaining the necessary licence from the Competent Ministry, in accordance with the conditions and controls set by the Executive Regulations of this Law.
Content published by an establishment through its website, application or electronic account shall not be deemed promotion or advertising subject to licensing under the provisions of this Article where it falls within the excepted purposes and cases set out in Clause (2) of Article (30) of this Law.

Article 52

Promoters and advertisers, practitioners of the Media Activities set out in this Law, and every person having an interest in the promotion or advertisement shall include in their promotional and advertising materials that which indicates, explicitly and clearly, that they are promotional or advertising material, provided that the Executive Regulations of this Law shall determine the conditions and controls to be met in promotion and advertising, who has such an interest, and the procedures required for issuing the necessary licence.

Article 53

The Competent Minister may, by a reasoned decision, prohibit the publication of any promotion or advertisement, in accordance with the conditions and controls set out in the Executive Regulations of this Law.

Chapter Thirteen – Violations, Offences and Penalties

Violation of the Provisions of the Law and Practising a Media Activity Without a Licence

Article 54

Any person who publishes, republishes, broadcasts or rebroadcasts, through any of the Media Activities set out in this Law, an interview or meeting with a child without the prior written permission of one of the child’s parents, guardian or custodian shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand Kuwaiti dinars and not more than ten thousand dinars.
Criminal action for this offence shall not be instituted except upon a complaint from one of the child’s parents, guardian or custodian.

Article 55

Every Promoter, Advertiser or practitioner of a Media Activity who publishes any promotion or advertisement of a marketing or promotional nature, directly or indirectly, for persons, a product, a service, a shop, a company, an exhibition or an event, whether for consideration or without consideration, or who holds competitions or distributes or offers gifts, without obtaining a licence to do so from the Competent Ministry, shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand Kuwaiti dinars and not more than fifty thousand dinars.

Article 56

Every Promoter, Advertiser or practitioner of a Media Activity who publishes any promotion or advertisement without including in it that which indicates, explicitly and clearly, that it is promotional or advertising material, or who publishes a promotion or advertisement containing inaccurate or misleading information contrary to the truth, or incomplete information, intended to deceive consumers, shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand Kuwaiti dinars and not more than fifty thousand dinars, in accordance with the conditions and controls set by the Executive Regulations of this Law.
The same penalty shall apply to every practitioner of a Media Activity set out in this Law who receives funding or financial support, directly or indirectly, from any person or entity, where the purpose thereof is to influence public opinion within the State of Kuwait or to direct Media Content, without obtaining a prior licence to do so from the Competent Ministry, issued after coordination with the relevant authorities in the State.

Article 57

Any person who obstructs the work of the judicial officers or the accounts inspectors, or prevents them from performing the duties of their work in accordance with the provisions of this Law, shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand Kuwaiti dinars and not more than twenty thousand dinars.

Article 58

Any person who practises any of the Media Activities set out in this Law without a licence shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand Kuwaiti dinars and not more than ten thousand dinars.
The same penalty shall apply to any person who contravenes the closure sanction issued by the Competent Ministry pursuant to the provisions of Article (61) of this Law, where no final judgment or decision cancelling it has been issued by the competent Administrative Court.

Article 59

The Licensee shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand Kuwaiti dinars and not more than twenty thousand dinars if it contravenes the provisions of Article (15) of this Law.
The same penalty shall apply to any person who possesses broadcasting and rebroadcasting equipment or devices without obtaining the approval of the Competent Ministry, together with the confiscation of such equipment or devices.

Article 60

Any person who contravenes the judgment or decision issued by the court for Blocking, closure, suspension or an Appearance Ban, the provisions of which are set out in Articles (64, 65, 66, 67) of this Law, shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand Kuwaiti dinars and not more than twenty thousand dinars.

Chapter Fourteen – Violations and Administrative Sanctions

Article 61

Any media establishments or institutions that contravene the provisions of this Law, its Executive Regulations or the decisions regulating it shall be subject to one or more of the following administrative sanctions:
1- Cautioning the offender to cease committing the violation or to remove it, as the case may be.
2- Warning.
3- A financial penalty of not less than one hundred Kuwaiti dinars and not more than ten thousand dinars; the penalty shall be doubled upon repetition of the violation, provided that it shall not exceed twenty thousand dinars.
4- Administrative closure of the contravening media establishments and institutions for a period not exceeding six months, renewable.
5- Final administrative closure of the unlicensed premises or establishments, and seizure of the devices and equipment used, without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties.
The offender may be required to bear the expenses and costs of removing and remedying the damage resulting from the violation if he fails to carry out such removal or remedy.
The imposition of the administrative sanctions referred to in this Article shall be without prejudice to the penalties or sanctions prescribed in this Law or any other law.
The Executive Regulations of this Law shall regulate the entities responsible for imposing these sanctions, the mechanism for recording violations and notifying the decisions thereon, the application of the administrative sanctions, and the entity concerned with collecting the financial penalties.

Article 62

Any person against whom any of the sanctions set out in the preceding Article has been imposed may file a grievance against it in writing with the Ministry within fifteen days from the date of his notification of the decision in writing or by any modern electronic means of communication capable of being saved and retrieved. The Ministry’s decision rejecting the grievance shall be final and may be challenged before the competent Administrative Court, and failure to respond to the grievance within one month from the date of its submission shall be deemed a rejection thereof.

Chapter Fifteen – General and Final Provisions

Article 63

With respect to Investment Entities licensed in accordance with the provisions of the aforementioned Law No. (116) of 2013, the Kuwaiti nationality requirement prescribed for those responsible for Media Activities and media outlets may be dispensed with, in the cases and in accordance with the conditions, controls and procedures set by the Executive Regulations, after coordination with the Direct Investment Promotion Authority.

Article 64

Without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties, the court may, in the event of a conviction, order the confiscation of the devices, programmes and means used in committing any of the offences set out in this Law or of the funds derived therefrom, and the deletion therefrom of the information and data that are the subject of the offence.
The court may also order the permanent Blocking, or the temporary Blocking for a period not exceeding one year, of the programme, websites, accounts or means used in committing any of the offences set out in this Law.
The court may order the withdrawal of the licence or the closure of the premises or website in which any of these offences was committed for a period not exceeding one year, as the case may be; and the judgment cancelling the licence and closing the premises, establishment, media institution or website shall be mandatory if any of these offences is committed repeatedly, all without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties or to the right of the injured party to appropriate compensation.

Article 65

The court may, upon convicting the accused of committing any of the offences set out in this Law, order, in addition to the principal penalty for the offence, that he be banned from appearing, interacting or publishing through any media outlet, including banning him from creating, operating, managing or appearing on any electronic account, website or programme, for a period not exceeding one year.
The court may, if it considers this to be in the public interest, order the publication of the operative part of the judgment containing the ban in the Official Gazette or in the appropriate Electronic Media Outlets.

Article 66

The Head of the Felonies Division or the Judge of Urgent Matters may, where necessary and upon a request from the Public Prosecution, issue a decision temporarily suspending the practice of the activity under the Licence for a period not exceeding two weeks, renewable, during the investigation or trial.

Article 67

The Head of the Felonies Division may, where necessary and upon a request from the Public Prosecution, issue a decision for the Blocking of the Electronic Media Outlet for a period not exceeding two weeks, renewable, during the investigation or trial.

Article 68

In the event of the publication, republication, broadcasting, rebroadcasting, authorisation, printing, preparation, presentation, transmission, display, distribution, sending or approval of Unlawful Media Content in contravention of the provisions of the laws in force in the State of Kuwait through any of the Media Activities set out in this Law, each of the following persons shall be criminally liable, according to the role and responsibility of each of them:
1- The Editor-in-Chief or whoever acts in his stead, and the writer of the article or the author of the content, in the event that the unlawful content is published in the Print Newspaper or the Electronic Newspaper.
2- The Channel manager or whoever acts in his stead, the programme’s preparer, its presenter, and every person responsible for broadcasting the unlawful content on a television or radio satellite Channel; excepted therefrom is unlawful content issued by a guest during a live broadcast, for which the Channel manager or whoever acts in his stead, the programme’s preparer, its presenter and those responsible for the broadcast shall not be criminally liable unless their prior knowledge of such content, or their participation or failure to take the necessary measures to prevent its occurrence, is proven.
3- The Responsible Manager of the Electronic Media Outlet through which the unlawful content was published.
4- The Responsible Manager of the Cinema in which the unlawful content was shown.
5- The importer of the unlawful foreign Publications or Media Content brought into and circulated within the State of Kuwait in contravention of the provisions of this Law.
Each of the aforementioned persons shall, as the case may be, be punished by the penalty prescribed for the offence, without prejudice to the criminal liability of any other person under the provisions of this Law or any other law.

Article 69

Without prejudice to the liability of natural persons, a legal person shall be criminally liable if any of the offences set out in this Law is committed in its name, on its account or for its benefit, or by using its devices or network, or its websites or accounts.
The legal person shall be punished by twice the fine prescribed for the offence under the provisions of this Law, without prejudice to the criminal liability of natural persons under the provisions of the law.

Article 70

The fine imposed shall not be less than half of its maximum limit where the offender has previously been finally convicted of committing any of the offences set out in this Law.

Article 71

The action for compensation for offences committed through the Media Activities set out in this Law shall lapse if it is not filed within six months from the date on which the injured party became aware of them, unless the criminal action is pending, in which case the period of inadmissibility shall begin from the date of its extinguishment or the issuance of a final judgment therein.

Article 72

The Competent Minister shall issue a decision designating the employees required to monitor the implementation of the provisions of this Law and of the regulations and decisions implementing it, and to record any violations of its provisions.
They shall have the right to enter premises practising any of the Media Activities set out in Article (4) of this Law, to audit all necessary documents and assets, to verify that no violations have been committed, to record the contravening acts and seize the materials and devices that are the subject of the violation, to draw up the necessary reports thereof and to refer them to the Public Prosecution; and they may, in this respect, seek the assistance of the competent authorities in performing their duties when necessary.
These employees shall take an oath before the Competent Minister or whomever he delegates from the entity to which they belong, in the following form:
I swear by Almighty God to perform my work with honesty, sincerity, integrity and honour, and not to disclose any secret of the work that I have come to know by virtue of my position, even after leaving the work.

Article 73

The Public Prosecution alone shall have competence for investigation, disposition and prosecution in all offences set out in this Law.

Article 74

The Felonies Division of the Court of First Instance shall be competent to hear all criminal actions set out in this Law, and its judgments shall be appealed before the Court of Appeal.

Article 75

Irrevocable criminal judgments and ministerial decisions relating to administrative sanctions issued by the Competent Ministry against the offender and relating to the application of the provisions of this Law shall be published in the Official Gazette.

Article 76

The Competent Ministry may conclude international agreements, exchange agreements or other agreements with Arab or foreign channels or stations, in a manner consistent with the provisions of this Law.

Article 77

Practitioners of media professions of a journalistic nature shall, while carrying out the work they are licensed to perform in accordance with the provisions of this Law, enjoy professional protection, in that they shall not be held criminally liable for what they publish or broadcast within the scope of practising their profession, provided that good faith is present and that they have adhered to the recognised professional principles of media work, including the pursuit of accuracy and objectivity, the exercise of due diligence to verify the accuracy of information before publishing or broadcasting it, and belief in its accuracy.

Article 78

The State shall guarantee the right to obtain information, statistics and data from government entities, in accordance with the controls and procedures set by the Executive Regulations of this Law, and without prejudice to the confidentiality provided for in the laws and regulations in force in the country, the requirements of national security, the privacy of individuals or the confidentiality of judicial investigations; and government entities shall facilitate this right for media institutions.

Article 79

The Competent Ministry shall, in cooperation with the relevant authorities, work to support and develop the media sector in the State of Kuwait through the following:
– Providing training and qualification programmes for those working in the media field.
– Encouraging innovation, research and development in media content and technologies.
– Organising workshops and events to raise awareness of professional and ethical responsibility in the media.

Article 80

A licence issued by the Competent Ministry pursuant to the provisions of this Law shall not, as a rule, dispense with any other licences required by the provisions of the laws in force in the country.

Issued on 27 September 2026 and published in the Official Gazette Kuwait Al-Youm on 4 October 2026.