Dubai frets about Youtube: Chief of Dubai Police calls for ban

The Middle East continues to struggle with the implications of the internet in terms of what people can choose to watch on their computers. Once again, Youtube is the target of complaints, with one Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Chief of Dubai Police yesterday calling for the innocuous YouTube website to be blocked.

Youtube is by internet standards pretty tame image-wise, but there are indeed clips available that voice ideas many would find truly shocking and offensive, such as woman kissing each other, or sacrilgious mini-movies on Islam, or any religion for that matter. But as always, the default solution is BAN! BLOCK! Instead of educate, and encourage independent thought. And perhaps getting parents to supervise their children while on line.

Excellent.

Such attitudes will help ensure the region continues to stimulate innovation, computer skills and creativity among its youth, as they immediately try to find ways to circumvent such heavy handed controls.



I especially like the quote on how Dubai police are all for person freedom... well, unless you want to use that freedom watching harmless mini-movies that they don't approve of in the privacy of your own home, obviously. I'm so glad that the entire planet (unacceptable to any country, society or individual) is being so ably protected from itself by Major General Al Mazeina of the Dubai Police.

Thank goodness they banned public dancing, kissing and hand-holding too, or the place would really start going downhill. You can't be having people watching something that mocks religion while swilling a beer in the company of 2 Ukrainian prostitutes in a Dubai Hotel, can you?



Is this big brother Abu Dhabi demanding a little behavioural pay back for their loaning Dubai $10bln++??

Police highlight negative aspects of YouTube
By Siham Al Najami, Staff Reporter
Published: April 03, 2009, 23:01

Dubai: A session held at Dubai Police highlighted the negative aspects of YouTube as part of the Juvenile Association in Dubai's duty to raise public awareness on the dangers of the internet.

Last month Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, website to be blocked.

He said the video-sharing website included indecent material that influenced the younger generation towards delinquency. He added the association was launching a campaign for this purpose, as its duty to protect the youth.

The areas of discussion with a delegation from Google covered the site's negative points such as showing pornographic clips and blasphemous clips that mock religions.

"Dubai Police completely supports the personal freedom of every individual but there is certain content on YouTube that is absolutely unacceptable to any country, society or individual," said Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Deputy Chief of Dubai Police.
Dubai Police will collaborate with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority to ensure the safe use of the internet that will encourage the youth to benefit from it.

Google's Gisel Hiscock, Director of New Biz Development in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said her visit was part of a tour she is undergoing in the region to listen to ideas and recommendations as well as to prepare for future meetings with officials to address specific concerns.