Jail threat for spreading rumours on Twitter, BBM

Posted by: Angelika Lancsak Wednesday, 10 August 2011 5:46 PM[UAE] - Austria

Not only in Austria - but in a lot of other countries - we have freedom of speech but NO riots! Just consider that...it has nothing to do with restriction of the internet but everything with education, responsibility and self-discipline!

Posted by: John Wednesday, 10 August 2011 2:24 PM[UAE] - Saudi Arabia

At the end of the day, it is the countries with restrictions on Internet and Blackberry that have seen the most peace, e.g. China, Saudi Arabia, other Gulf countries. We havent seen any protests there and people are happy including expats. Just see what is happening in the UK and had happened before in Canada and France. Too much freedom causes chaos and destruction. I am more than happy to live in a country where the government maintains peace at all costs. Apparently "freedom" in the West is simply the freedom to riot and cause mayhem

Posted by: Marijke Thursday, 11 August 2011 1:53 PM[UAE] - UAE

A Lionheart, John has a point. BBM has been used by UK rioters to arrange their sick activities, and now UK govt is calling for banning or monitoring the service. When UAE and KSA were considering this, UK was 1 of the first to condemn it. I prefer to give up bit of freedom of speech, and be safe. Besides, in Holland insulting anyone of the royal family is a criminal offense. Why shouldn't it be here? Plus, people spreading rumors have no idea what confusion and unrest it can cause. And regarding BBM, I recall RIM in Canada having access to data sent in UAE, so why shouldn't the UAE authorities have that access for the security of this country?

Posted by: Lionheart Wednesday, 10 August 2011 4:14 PM[UAE] - Qatar

What a bizzare point of view , i think the miilions of disaffected citizens in China and the K.S.A would probably tell you otherwise; i bet the families of the people killed in the Tiananmen Square Massacre would be surprised indeed. A very naive post to say the least !

Posted by: Ahmed Wednesday, 10 August 2011 2:19 PM[UAE] - UK

Freedom should come with responsibilities. If anyone is old enough to dare, so he/she old enough to face the consequences.

Posted by: Toby Tuesday, 9 August 2011 10:40 PM[UAE] - UAE

Could the UAE Gov please send some advisers over to brief the UK Gov please, we need a good dose of common sense right now. Thanking you in advance!

Posted by: Evgeny Tuesday, 9 August 2011 6:18 PM[UAE] - UAE

Of course there is an issue of the freedom of speech. But tell this to the families of dozens of innocent people that died because someone used this freedom to pursue their own agendas in the Arab world. I fully support the Government's move to monitor social networks and enforce the law because i live in this country happily and don't want things to change.