Removing blogs: a new form of Web censorship in the Middle East and North Africa
In addition to blocking blogs and arresting bloggers, a new form of censorship has started to emerge in the Middle East and North Africa: blog-hosting services removing blogs from their servers.
Arab bloggers complain that the major blog-hosting services, Maktoob Blog and Jeeran Blog, have removed popular blogs without providing any explanations or prior notice.
For example, bloggers reported that Jeeran Blog has removed a blog run by a Lebanese blogger because it contains sensitive political content. One of the bloggers who reported (Arabic) the blog removal asked Jeeran Blog to let the public know if the blog-hosting service is under pressure from the Arab political regimes.
Bloggers also reported that Maktoob Blog removed a blog run by a Saudi activist. Saudi blogger Khalid Naser reported (Arabic) the removal and posted what he said is a response from the blog-hosting service Maktoob Blog to his protest letter. The response said: “we have received orders from a state authority to shut down the blog. We removed the blog so that we, and our users, shall not be held legally responsible."
Some Arab bloggers have started a campaign to dissuade bloggers from using the Arabic blog-hosting services who they believe try to control what goes on the Arab blogsphere. The campaign promotes the use of the open source platform WordPress.
ONI reviewed the Terms and Conditions (Arabic) set forth by Maktoob Blog and found that they stipulate that bloggers should not publish posts that offend, insult, or humiliate divine religions, religious sects, and “Wulat al Umr”, an Arabic term for political rulers and leaders. Interestingly, the English version of the Terms and Conditions does not explicitly mention the rulers and political leaders. Instead, it states that, “You are kindly requested to refrain from offending others, in doing so please do not to use Maktoob blogs to offend any religion or religious beliefs. You are free to post your comments on the other blogs, however you cannot humiliate, insult or disparage others or other users' families, relatives or dear friends. As well you are refrained from violating any laws and regulations.”
Many countries in the Middle East and North Africa block Web sites and blogs that criticize the Arab regimes and leaders. Removing entire sites and blogs that contain oppositional content is expected to rise, given the increase in measures taken by Arab states against freedom of information. Just last month, the Arab Ministers of Information adopted a TV broadcast charter that restricts criticism of Arab regimes and leaders. The press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders condemned the agreement and described it as repressive and retrograde.
