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For illustrative purposes only. Image Credit: Supplied

Abu Dhabi: A man has been arrested by Riyadh Police on charges of blackmailing and defaming a young woman via social media.

The man was arrested for threatening to circulate pictures, in violation of the cyber security law, said police spokesperson Major Khaled Kreidis.

The suspect blackmailed the young woman and threatened her after he communicated with her through a social media platform.

He was remanded in custody pending further interrogation and trial, police said.

Police called on social media users to immediately report when they get exposed to online blackmailing and advised them to protect their privacy and not to share their private photos with strangers via digital media channels.

The police urged families and parents to educate their children about the dangers of online misuse, to keep an eye on them when using social media platforms and make sure they know what to do when exposed to inappropriate content on the internet.