TRA confirms partial unblocking of Flickr site

Abu Dhabi: The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has confirmed that the popular social networking website Flickr has been partially unblocked.

In a statement, the TRA said: "The block, which was applied on the Flickr website, has been removed. However, a partial block will remain active on some sections that provide improper content that contradicts with the UAE society values and tradition.

"Flickr was previously blocked by the TRA as it included some images which oppose the values and culture of the society."

Flickr is an online photo and video sharing application that had been banned in the UAE since 2005.

Flickr's owner, Yahoo!, said in an article posted on its website on Tuesday that the service was now accessible through the UAE's two telecommunications providers etisalat and du. Yahoo! also reported the UAE had agreed to unblock all of Flickr with the exception of Flickr Groups.

Ahmad Nassef, Vice-President and Managing Director of Yahoo! Middle East, was said to have commented on ongoing discussions to unblock the Groups category.