Posts Tagged ‘UAE’

UAE: Fourth pro-democracy activist detained

April 18th, 2011

Human rights lawyers say the authorities on Friday (15 April) detained an activist participating in an online forum that called for free elections in the country. Abdullah al-Shehhy becomes the fourth activist who has been arrested since demonstrators began calling for political reforms in the country. The government had previously arrested the leader of the forum, Ahmed Mansour.

UAE: News website shut down

November 29th, 2010

The Emirates Local News website (http://localnewsuae.com), which translates and posts all news about the UAE from around the world, has been blocked within the UAE. The ban came 10 days before the site’s first anniversary and the government have offered no reason for the decision. Visitors to the site will find only an announcement that the site has been “banned as per the regulations of the Internet access department in the UAE”. This follows the closing of the alHewar alEmirati forum at the start of the year.

UAE: BlackBerry ban suspended

October 13th, 2010

A UAE regulator has withdrawn its threat to suspend BlackBerrys mobile communication services. In August, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority said it would ban BlackBerry’s messenger, e-mail and web-browser services on October 11.  It claimed BlackBerry’s use of internal encrypted networks raised national security concerns. Research in Motion (RIM), the Canadian maker of BlackBerry entered negotiations and the regulator has now determined that Blackberry has become “compliant” with UAE law. RIM has refused to specify any of their concessions. They are thought to have granted some access to communications passed between devices to the government. The authorities in India, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Lebanon have expressed similar reservations.

UAE: BlackBerry ban is a sign of elite’s unease

August 3rd, 2010


The leaders of the Emirates are nervous of an Iranian-style uprising, says Christopher Davidson
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UAE: “Security risk” BlackBerrys face restrictions

July 26th, 2010

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.

UAE blocks Sunday Times

December 1st, 2009

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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