Internet Censorship in UAE
Internet censorship in the UAE started in the early 2000s, and it’s managed by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). They keep an eye on what people can access online. The goal is to block websites that might upset the country’s culture and values. The TRA has a list of websites that are banned, including ones with pornography, gambling, political stuff, and some social media.
The main reason for this censorship is to protect Islamic values and traditions in the UAE. The country is pretty conservative about things like religion, sex, and politics. So, anything that goes against these values is seen as a problem for society and is kept away from the public. They also block websites with hate speech or ones that criticize the government.
Additionally, the government has put rules to encourage careful internet use rather than blocking websites completely. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) made guidelines for internet content control. It asks all internet providers to set up tools for parents to manage and limit what their kids can see online.
But even with these rules, there have been times when the system didn’t work well. For example, in 2017, Skype, a widely used communication app, got banned because of safety worries. This caused problems for many people and businesses who relied on Skype to talk. Likewise, when the popular messaging app WhatsApp got banned in 2019, it upset many people.Furthermore, the system used to block content also worries people about privacy and being watched. People worry this could invade their privacy and feel like the government is spying on them. Even though the TRA says it’s for national security, some people think it’s a way to control what people do online and stop them from being free.
List of Websites blocked in UAE
List of Websites blocked in UAE: The UAE is known for its strict censorship laws and regulations regarding online content. This has resulted in a long list of websites being blocked in the country. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) censors the internet in many areas.
The Internet Access Management (IAM) Regulatory Policy, overseen by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) in the UAE, mandates that Etisalat and Du, upon TDRA’s request, block online content that violates cyber laws in force. TDRA outlines prohibited content as material that contradicts or is deemed offensive to public interest, morality, order, security, or Islam.
In this article, we have provided the list of websites that are blocked in UAE for various reasons that are also discussed in the article.
Table of Content
- List of Websites Blocked in UAE
- Internet Censorship in UAE
- Types of Websites Blocked in UAE
- Main Websites Blocked in UAE
- Methods of Website Blocking in UAE
- Why is Social Media Banned in UAE
- Impact of Restricted Internet Access in UAE