Authorities in Saudi Arabia have arrested 22 people for "inciting against public order" through social media, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Wednesday.
Citing an official source at the Presidency of State Security, SPA revealed that the administration has identified and arrested the people behind viral video clips that are considered violations of the Information Crimes Law.
After monitoring the circulation of videos on social networking sites, authorities tracked down the people responsible for the clips that may disturb public order and incite acts that are "legally and religiously prohibited."
"The competent authority of the presidency monitored circulation of video clips on social networking sites inciting against public order and stirring up feelings towards issues that are still under consideration or against an (a public) interest," according to SPA.
21 Saudis and one Qatari national have thus been detained pending investigation, as "their motives and links are being verified."
The identities of the accused and the controversial videos they are suspected of sharing have not been disclosed.
State security officials went on to warn against online activities that disrupt public order, stressing "that it will not tolerate anyone who commits such acts."
"[It] will respond firmly and resolutely to those who seek to undermine the security of the homeland and its stability," it added.
According to Bloomberg, this comes as part of the kingdom's "most severe crackdown on dissent in years".
In September, Saudi authorities reportedly arrested several well-known clerics and activists who were not identified.
At the time, a Saudi security source told Reuters that the suspects were accused of "espionage activities and having contacts with external entities, including the Muslim Brotherhood".
Authorities have also arrested 24 people in Hail for inciting sedition
In a separate statement, SPA reported that 24 people, including a Qatari national, have been arrested in the north-western city of Hail.
The detained are accused of "exploiting social networking sites to promote lies and exaggerations about their circumstances in order to provoke sedition and tribal tensions."
A spokesman for the Ministry of Interior Security said that the suspects were spreading rumours online about their living conditions in the Hail region to provoke "sedition and tribal infidelity," according to the Saudi Gazette.
It remains unclear whether the two sets of arrests are related.