Facebook, MySpace & YouTube bans in the region: Cultural threshold crossed

It was bound to happen. Social networks are really pushing the boundaries of culturally ‘acceptable’ topics, images and even videos to breaking point.

In the Arab and Islamic world, there is a certain level at which there will be complaints, followed by government intervention and censorship.

I will not be the person to say whether or not total freedom should be allowed, as it is clear to every corporation working in, or taregting, the Middle East market that there are certain religious and social norms that must be considered.

The problem with the Internet, is that it unleashes the ‘abnormal’ in these societies, and it happens so fast and attracts many users before authorities realize what’s happening. Then, as you would expect, these authorities hit the headlines locally and across the world when censorships or bans begin.

This week, mediaME.com reported that 'elements of the popular social networking website Facebook could be blocked to UAE net users next year. This is part of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) upcoming Internet Penetration Policy (IPP).

The report says that “the aim of the new policy is to liberate web access by more specifically defining which types of online material can be accessed and which should be blocked to surfers.”

A spokesperson said that "we do not want to deny access to websites that are social portals and encourage cultural interaction in today's globalised world. At the same time it has to be done without losing our identity, traditions, ethics, morals and culture."

The spokesman added that sections of social networking websites, such as Facebook's dating-related sections (or, more specifically, downloadable applications) would be banned, which is not the case at present.

I have to say that the approach of the UAE towards the Facebook issue is quite civilized, providing a future deadline that both warns Facebook of the consequences, and allows users to maybe get whatever they want to see or do finished before a certain point in time!

And, it’s only blocking parts of Facebook. So, the majority of users will be unaffected.

Also this week, the Pakistani Telecommunications Authority (PTA) ordered Internet service providers, to prevent people in Pakistan from visiting YouTube.

The authority cited a "highly blasphemous" video featuring right-wing Dutch politician Geert Wilders.

The block was intended to cover only Pakistan but somehow caused a tech-glitch that extended to about two-thirds of the global Internet population!

Anyway, the ban was lifted shortly afterwards, as YouTube graciously removed the video. So, government censorship sometimes gets results.

Although total freedom is supposedly what the Internet is all about, surely the same regulations that govern print and audiovisual media in Arab and Islamic countries must, at some point, also govern the latest mainstream media.

Did anyone really believe that the Internet wouldn’t be treated the same way?

zanasser@gmail.com