Arabian Business magazine runs this article about new laws governing the use of the Internet in the Kingdom. I’ve highlighted the pertinent words below. Some are self-explanatory and pretty unobjectionable. Support of terrorism, fraud, pornography (with various definitions) and defamation are forbidden by laws in most countries. ‘Violating religious values’ and ‘disregarding public etiquette’, however, are slippery slope words: they mean whatever authorities want them to mean as they have no intrinsic value in themselves.
I suspect the Saudi government does not mean ‘disregarding Hindu or Baha’i or Christian or Jewish religious values’. And just which member of the public’s sensibilities do we seek to protect? Some are offended by anything, even looking for excuses to take offense. These laws, therefore, give the government authority to jail just about anyone using the Internet for just about any purpose. All they need to do is find someone who’s offended.
While Saudi Arabia desperately needs codified laws, it does not need codified bad laws.
This piece also makes note of the plight of blogger Fuad Al-Farhan, still in jail ostensibly for visiting a jailed dissident.
Saudi tightens grip on internet use
David WestleyThe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has begun implementing new laws for controlling the use of technology for terrorism, fraud, pornography, defamation, violating religious values and disregarding public etiquette.
The new information technology law contains 16 articles, and provides a maximum penalty of 10 years and a SR5 million fine for persons found guilty of running web sites in support of terrorist organisations.
A maximum penalty of three years and a SR500,000 fine will be handed to anyone found guilty of financial or data fraud, or found guilty of attacking the private life of another subject.
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January:27:2008 - 09:57
Darn I am glad I never took that Saudi Nationality Crap! SORRY! but that is the pathetic truth.
January:27:2008 - 15:05
ki$$ goodbye 2 freedom’s a$$!!
January:27:2008 - 16:34
Why now?
January:28:2008 - 03:11
Solomon2 asked, “Why now?” Because they are SCARED that why!
Scaredy pants…scaredy pants….scaredy pants…
January:28:2008 - 12:35
Ah, but what are “they” scared of now that they weren’t before?
How does a new law come into existence in the KSA anyway? I find it tough to believe the first inkling one has of social legislations is when it is mentioned in business journals.
January:28:2008 - 12:53
The opacity with which the Saudi government works is a matter of some consternation, not only to outside observers, but to Saudis themselves.
This law was created because someone within the government thought it was a good idea. Just who that was is unlikely to be known unless it becomes a great success, in which case it will have many fathers.
January:28:2008 - 13:09
Yep, but will it continue an orphan if it dies at inception? I love the “disregarding public etiquette” standard. What would that cover, I wonder? News sites (all those uncovered females!) and Daisy Duck (scantily clad female ducks!)?
January:28:2008 - 13:17
If Pokemon can become the subject of a fatwa, I don’t think Daisy should consider herself safe!
January:28:2008 - 13:50
Could this new law have been created to apply to Fuad Al-Farhan specifically, even though Fuad was jailed first? This sort of injustice was one of prime motivations driving the firebrand Samuel Adams to revolt against King George III in the 1760s.
An ardent anti-Federalist, he initially opposed the 1789 Constitution but finally supported it on two conditions: that a Bill of Rights be added, and that the Constitution itself contain a clause forbidding ex post facto laws. Satisfied at last with a form of government he considered just, he soon retired from national politics.
How much easier it would have been, and how much less blood shed, if only the government had been just in the first place!
January:29:2008 - 02:48
I love Samuel Adams….Nice example…
I think this law has some good points too like no terrorist websites or pornography….