Today, Facebook users were surprised to find out they could not access their accounts and instead were greeted with the ugly green screen saying the site could not be accessed. The reasons behind this could be as the same above, a Facebook fan/community page attacking Saudi Arabia's main religion and, upon closer inspection of the Facebook block URL, indicates pornography as also a reason for the ban.
While bloggers and netizens provided work-arounds to access Facebook 'partial' blockage, the
possibility remains that Facebook as a whole could be banned permanently in Saudi Arabia which has been the clamor of it's religious leaders claiming the site has been a cause of division among its members. Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam and religious leaders have a powerful influence over policy making and social norms.
An official with Saudi Arabia's communications authority, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that CITC blocked Facebook because Facebook's content had "crossed a line" with the kingdom's conservative morals, but that the Facebook blocking the site was a temporary measure.
On the other hand, Facebook has been a way of communication for expatriates in Saudi Arabia, bringing people and the world closer--at least virtually--to the desert kindom of Saudi Arabia.
Banning or blocking Facebook is a choice the Saudi government can make, but will it really make a difference considering Facebook is NOT the whole Internet?
How about you, dear Reader, should there really be a Facebook ban or blockage in Saudi Arabia?
2 comments:
November 15, 2010 at 10:28 PM
I think that even the Facebook is blocked in Saudi Arabia; there are still ways to access the site. With the use of software's and proxies, that thing would be possible.
facebook blocked
November 21, 2010 at 12:08 AM
true except for the fact that most of the proxies do not work anymore or a super ad-laden in KSA.
If you know of any proxy worth trying, do share.
thanks for the input michael.
Post a Comment