JEDDAH: The Eastern Province police are still investigating a case involving the alleged assault of two girls in a local mall, but have warned that there would also be action taken against those who film such incidents and post them on social networking sites.

The police recently released a statement saying that it was a crime in terms of the country’s cyber laws to make public such footage. This material must be handed to the police, according to a report in a local publication.

Two young men are under investigation over the latest incident which took place in a mall in Alkhobar. Investigators are currently examining footage from the closed circuit cameras at the mall, the police said.

A security source said that no one had the right to film the two girls and to post this material on social networking sites. This harms their reputation, he said.

He said the police are now working to identify the people who filmed the incident. Action would be taken against everyone who posted the material online, even if they are 20 people, he said.

Younes Al-Badauod, the supervisor of a group of commercial centers and malls, said no one has the right to film others without permission in public places. They have a right to take legal action against the perpetrators, he said.

He said some incidents take place outside malls that are not covered by cameras. This happened 18 months ago at a mall in Alkhobar where members of the public filmed several women who were harassed. However, they had no right to make this footage public, he said.

Abdulaziz Fayez, the owner of a mall in Dammam, said people are now regularly photographing and making videos of others in public places. He does work with the police if asked for footage of incidents taking place inside the mall.

Lawyer Khalid Al-Omar said that people who post videos online without permission can face legal action. This does not only apply to incidents that affect the security of the nation, such as the filming of customs officers last week on the King Fahd Causeway who seized explosives being smuggled into the Kingdom.

Al-Omar said those who break the law are subject to fines and imprisonment. People filming in public places must also take into account the customs and traditions of the country, he said.