Following a protest by female Saudi journalists in response to an offensive report appearing in an online newspaper, the Saudi Ministry of Information is exploring the possibility of regulating online news sources, Zawya reported.

The regulations are said to include controls over electronic media that stipulate the sites apply for official permits issued by the Ministry of Information. Owners and editors of the newspapers would also be required to include their names on their site.

The "Anti-electronic newspaper" movement gained support after 13 Saudi newspapers pressed charges of defamation and libel against an online newspaper that published an article accusing female journalists in Riyadh of engaging in unproffesional relations with senior members of local papers.

The board of directors of the Saudi Journalists Association plans to speak with concerned authorities about forming a set of regulations aimed at controlling electronic media.