Saudi Arabia Bans Facebook 227
gandhi_2 sends in a brief Associated Press piece on Saudi Arabia's blocking of Facebook. "An official with Saudi Arabia's communications authority says it has blocked Facebook because the popular social networking website doesn't conform with the kingdom's conservative values. ... He says Facebook's content had 'crossed a line' with the kingdom's conservative morals, but that blocking the site is a temporary measure." Some reports indicate that at least some individual Facebook pages can be reached from inside the kingdom. There hasn't been an official announcement; the source noted above requested anonymity. Earlier this year when Pakistan and Bangladesh banned Facebook, it was over particular content — cartoons of Mohammed — and the Saudi ban may prove similar once more details emerge.
Re:temporary measure (Score:4, Funny)
Not really, unlike RIM, it's not practical or even commercially sound for Facebook to abide by KSA's "conservative values". There is also no inherent benefit on Saudi Arabia's part to have Facebook operate there. Except maybe monitoring citizens, but they already have full control over any means of communication so that's just unnecessary.
The only reason I can see for them calling this a temporary measure is a PR move. They are shifting the blame on Facebook, saying they would unblock it as soon as it's compatible with their values. Of course everyone knows what's going on, but that's how PR works. They opened a university or two to women and last week they got elected to UN's women's rights agency. Maybe now their shooting for a position on Internet Freedoms board.
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Re:yep... (Score:3, Funny)
In other news, the median Saudi IQ score went up a point.
Some country banned Facebook (Score:5, Funny)
Like
Re:yep... (Score:3, Funny)
Also, since he said "in either direction", I should point out that I'm extremely upset that I will no longer be able to find random burqa-clad hotties to cyber-sex with. This is a disaster of epic proportions.
Re:yep... (Score:3, Funny)
tl;dr.
Re:yep... (Score:3, Funny)
Imam al-Diesel: What are you smiling about?
Paullah al-bin-Walker: Dude, I almost had my freedom!
Imam al-Diesel:You almost had your freedom? You never had your freedom! You never had any of your rights!
Cut to shot of Paullah al-bin Walker standing alone in a desert
[Directed by M. Night Shymalan]
Re:Abdullah Hamed (www.indiesaudi.com) (Score:2, Funny)
any questions? :D
Yes.
dont worry we get our pr0ns
Link?