du to filter web content

Dubai: Integrated telecom service provider du will be filtering internet content by proxy effective today, officials said in a statement.

"We want to ensure that all our customers' requirements are met, and that we comply with all the guidelines of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), including those on internet content filtering.

Recently, there have been many complaints from du internet users on the lack of filtering out offensive websites.

The proxy will hinder users from having access to all websites. The company will be blocking all content that is not in line with moral, social and cultural values of the UAE.

Sometimes websites are blocked because they are social website, in a different language. How am I supposed to keep in touch with my friends, who are not using English sites?
Maria
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2008, 10:46

Will du let it be known exactly how many users complained in comparison to the number of users who did not complain?
Dave
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2008, 10:38

That's great! It's about time.
R.A.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2008, 10:37

I was waiting for du to begin this. I am very happy about this. I hope they will be as good at it as etisalat.
M.K.K.
Umm Al Quwain,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2008, 10:34

Why don't the people who are complaining about a lack of content filter, go online and download one of the many free programmes available? Will du be following etisalat in blocking sites such as Skype?
Dozza
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2008, 10:24

I think there should be an option for the public, where they can chose to use the filter or not, depending on the user.
Syed
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2008, 10:05

The internet is only one of many forms of communication media that is free of control. Contents are not censored by any government, unlike the newspapers, radio, TV etc. Self censorship should be the way instead of filtering content. It seems that people are unable to control themselves and they need the authorities to do it for them. Slowly and surely, all the rights of the citizens will be taken away. When that time comes, all of us will be like robots; you can't do this, you can't do that.
Alvin
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2008, 09:08

There's no progress without freedom (of choice). If someone is bothered by du's content, they shouldn't access it. Why complain about it? Dubai is what it is because it has (or had) more freedom than neighbouring Gulf countries. I feel that now, it is taking steps back.
Kareem
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2008, 08:54

How could they do that, this is going to affect businesses in Dubai Media City, which is supposed to be a free zone and have open access to the web. I wonder what the reaction will be.
Nelly
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2008, 08:42

These people that complain, have they never heard of the options available in web browsers so they can personally block what they find objectionable?
B.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2008, 08:17

It's better late then never. Very good start from du.
Priyanka
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2008, 08:15

I fully support it. There are enough crazy things going around in this country already, so we do not wish to expose more from the internet to our young generation.
Hassan
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2008, 07:47

Will these people get a life. If their moral obligations stretch so far then subscribe to etisalat, simple.
Stephen
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2008, 07:33

Yeah, thanks du, it's about time! You just realised now, after 14 months of operation, that it was against the UAE's moral and cultural values?
Hisham
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 14, 2008, 07:26