Whatever your opinion of the UAE's policy of blocking access to certain websites, recent changes to exactly how this is done should, I believe, be applauded.

A couple of weeks ago, the Telecoms Regulatory Authority (TRA) ruled that the (rather alarmingly red) "Site Blocked" screen should now include a list detailing exactly what sort of website content is banned.

When attempting to access a blocked site, you are now met with a (much more gentle) grey display, which has a new link to "Prohibited Content Categories", giving a description of subject matters that are blocked by the government.

Many people are completely against any form of censorship – and the most vociferous opponents are, in my personal experience, Western expatriates. However, an examination of the 13 "prohibited" categories reveals that over half are designed to protect web users against illegal activity – and, by that, I mean what's deemed illegal in both the UAE, and the very countries that said Western expats hail from.

These categories include "Internet Content for Learning Criminal Skills", "Internet Content for Illegal Drugs", "Internet Content that [is] offensive to Religions" and "Terrorism Internet Content".

The UAE's censorship policy therefore aids the fight against criminal acts, from online fraud to bomb-making. No one but the most hard-line "freedom of speech" activist could object to that; some may even call for a similar policy on website blocking to be extended worldwide. The new guidelines are also a gesture of openness within a practice that some feel represents the exact opposite. With clear guidelines on what is blocked, individuals and businesses looking to relocate to the UAE will know what to expect.

The move also coincides with the unblocking of around 1,000 websites. These include certain social networking sites, plus useful medical sites that – although they may contain reference to "sex" or very specific parts of the anatomy – could never be deemed pornographic, only educational.

All this suggests that a policy of blanket censorship is now behind us, and that we're seeing a more thoughtful and consistent approach to blocking websites.

However, while there may be greater transparency and specificity in the practice of internet blocking, I believe that there should be more flexibility too. As Emirati cultural writer Dr Salem Humaid recently argued in the local press, the possibility of granting exemptions to site blocks could be appropriate for those in certain professions. If an academic is researching the global terrorist threat, for example, it is vital that they are granted access to the relevant sites.

Internet censorship is a complex issue and – whatever your stand – some credit should be given for anything that represents a more sophisticated approach to it.

Source:
http://www.business24-7.ae/Articles/200 ... 8ae9c.aspx