The leaders of the Emirates are nervous of an Iranian-style uprising, says Christopher Davidson
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BlackBerrys could be banned or monitored in the UAE after officials announced on 26 July, that they do not conform with national laws. The region’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority said that “BlackBerry operates beyond the jurisdiction of national legislation” and warned that its misuse could cause “serious social, judicial and national security repercussions.” The Blackberry smart phone, developed by Research in Motion, was released prior to the enactment of safety emergency and national security legislation in 2007. Particular concern relates to the use of internal encrypted networks for email and instant message services, making it difficult for the authorities to track. In 2009, the government was subjected to widespread criticism after encouraging Blackberry customers to download an “upgrade”, which transpired to be surveillance software enabling officials to read and store user’s emails.
The United Arab Emirates blocked distribution of the Sunday Times newspaper over the weekend due to its “insulting” coverage of the Dubai debt crisis. The National Media Council blocked the distribution of newspaper due to upset caused by an image which depicted ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum sinking under a sea of debt. An official from the council told AFP: “We cannot accept a personal insult.” Read more here
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