12 Jan 2011 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
Saudi Arabia’s already restricted cyberspace is now subject to new regulation that allows the state to directly supervise and control internet material. The law passed on 1 January 2011 requires anyone wishing to post material on-line to obtain a press license and to abide by content limitation regulations which ban “offending others”, “compromising the economy or security” and disobedience to Islamic Law. The Saudi authorities regularly harass journalists who challenge the states policies. Law professor Mohammed Abdallah Al-Abdulkarim was detained in early December 2010 after writing an article on-line in criticism of the government.
9 Aug 2010 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
The Saudi Arabian government and RIM, the Canadian manufacturer of BlackBerry have compromised over plans to ban the BlackBerry messenger service. The deal reportedly allows for a server to be built in Saudi Arabia, overcoming the concerns of the government that data was sent abroad. Fears were originally raised by the United Arab Emirates, who plan to implement their own ban in October. Experts have raised concerns that this will allow the authorities access to private messages and content and could increase state censorship. The Saudi government claims that BlackBerrys are used by terrorists and a threat to national security.
18 May 2010 | Index Index, minipost, Uncategorized
Jamal Khashoggi has stepped down as editor-in-chief of al-Watan after the progressive Saudi newspaper published a controversial opinion piece criticising Salafism. Arab news sources speculate he was forced to resign, the Saudi authorities adher to Wahabbism, a form of Salafi Islam. Khashoggi was abroad when the article was published, and has since denounced the article, saying it was an error to publish it.
28 Apr 2010 | Digital Freedom, Index Index, minipost, Uncategorized
The Saudi Arabian government broke the Arabic record for the fastest time to block a new website, clocking in at just 15 hours. On 25 April, they blocked a US- based site created by Egyptian activists The Egyptian Association for Change, eacusa.org, only 15 hours after it launched. Tunisia was the previous record holder, blocking www.yezzi.org in 18 hours after it went live in 2005.
