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Discuss this article (10 Comments)Police chief to discuss web 'smut' words with Etisalat
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Monday, 11 May 2009
INTERNET SMUT: Dubai chief of police is meeting Etisalat officials in the next two weeks to discuss the 500 banned words. (Getty Images)
The chief of Dubai’s police said on Monday he would be meeting with Etisalat officials later this month, to discuss the 500-strong list of offensive words that will be used to block access to internet sites.
Speaking exclusively to Arabian Business Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim said that he would be meeting with the telecoms provider in the next two weeks.
He added that Etisalat, the UAE's largest telecoms provider, had compiled the list of words, not the police, or the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, as had been previously reported.
“The 500 words were composed by Etisalat not by me. I will talk to Etisalat in the next two weeks,” Tamim said on the sidelines of the Arab Media Conference in Dubai.
The 500 word list came to light last month when it emerged that the deputy chief of police had met with a Google official in Dubai to discuss their use as a means to bar internet searches.
It is part of a plan to protect the UAE's young people from "pornographic" and "anti-religious" content on Google and YouTube, Tamim added at the time.
What words make up the list is still unknown, but they are described by Tamim as “smut” words.
“These (500) terms open the door into the smut in the cyberspace bringing in devastating effect on the young generation as the studies had shown,” he said in a statement published by state news agency WAM said on April 13.
Google, the world's largest search engine, has denied it is in the process of drawing up a censorship plan for the UAE.
Etisalat were not immediately available for comment.
READERS' COMMENTS
Disclaimer: The views expressed here by our readers are not necessarily shared by ArabianBusiness.com or its employees.
Bravo!
Posted by Khalid, Dubai on Saturday 13 June 2009 at 03:17 UAE time
Actually this is just the start of Tamim's commendable campaign of reform. To reach the highest form of society, we need to ban internet altogether, which is Tamim's next step. Only then will we be able to eradicate vice altogether. This guy is a genius.
Posted by Khalid, Dubai on Saturday 13 June 2009 at 03:17 UAE time
Actually this is just the start of Tamim's commendable campaign of reform. To reach the highest form of society, we need to ban internet altogether, which is Tamim's next step. Only then will we be able to eradicate vice altogether. This guy is a genius.
DP -stick to policing
Posted by Harry Winston on Friday 12 June 2009 at 22:09 UAE time
DP should stick to policing the real world and not the internet. Only child pornography should be their jurisdiction so they can focus on these two words. Leave the rest to the TRA and parents.
Posted by Harry Winston on Friday 12 June 2009 at 22:09 UAE time
DP should stick to policing the real world and not the internet. Only child pornography should be their jurisdiction so they can focus on these two words. Leave the rest to the TRA and parents.
Some comments
Posted by Ali, Dubai, UAE on Friday 12 June 2009 at 15:58 UAE time
1. The effort of DP is apreciated in protecting the culture, but some "realiies" in the streets and hotels need to be monitored as well.
2. Internet access can't be blocked. There are many ways of bypassing Etisalat.
3. Google's interest, of course, is making money out of the whole issue. So watch out.
Posted by Ali, Dubai, UAE on Friday 12 June 2009 at 15:58 UAE time
1. The effort of DP is apreciated in protecting the culture, but some "realiies" in the streets and hotels need to be monitored as well.
2. Internet access can't be blocked. There are many ways of bypassing Etisalat.
3. Google's interest, of course, is making money out of the whole issue. So watch out.
Its a real waste of time
Posted by MHD, Dubai, UAE on Tuesday 12 May 2009 at 11:08 UAE time
If you are targeting the youth, if you are saying that DONT do that, DONT do this, DONT See this.... then they will have the urge to know more about it; to see it.....
You cannot control the youth using this keywords/ blocking some sites. Big threats here in dubai are violation of traffic laws, tinted glass usage...While driving on Emirates road, I was around 110KM speed, in the fast track, I have seen a bike rider was trying to overtake me, he is crossing Yellow track to overtake, I immediately looked into the right side mirror, a landcruiser with glossy tinted glass passed me with more than 200KM spead I believe. I was not able to see the road for almost 10 secs because of the glare. After 10 secs I realized that I reached in 2nd track and the traffic going smoothly. If im turning/stop my car to any side then atleast 3 drivers will get killed including me. The authorities have to think about this... how this can be solved.
Posted by MHD, Dubai, UAE on Tuesday 12 May 2009 at 11:08 UAE time
If you are targeting the youth, if you are saying that DONT do that, DONT do this, DONT See this.... then they will have the urge to know more about it; to see it.....
You cannot control the youth using this keywords/ blocking some sites. Big threats here in dubai are violation of traffic laws, tinted glass usage...While driving on Emirates road, I was around 110KM speed, in the fast track, I have seen a bike rider was trying to overtake me, he is crossing Yellow track to overtake, I immediately looked into the right side mirror, a landcruiser with glossy tinted glass passed me with more than 200KM spead I believe. I was not able to see the road for almost 10 secs because of the glare. After 10 secs I realized that I reached in 2nd track and the traffic going smoothly. If im turning/stop my car to any side then atleast 3 drivers will get killed including me. The authorities have to think about this... how this can be solved.
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