Internet Filtering in Bahrain in 2004-2005

Bahrain filters a very small number of Internet sites from its citizens. The OpenNet Initiative’s testing of more than 6,000 sites revealed only eight sites blocked. Three of the blocked sites were pornographic; the others covered political and religious topics. In each case, however, the Bahrain filtering regime leaves accessible many sites with similar content. In addition, a simple change in entering the URL (e.g., playboy.com rather than www.playboy.com) can render the otherwise blocked site accessible. This modest filtering regime is supported by both a legal context, including extensive potential controls of media, telecommunications, and the Internet, and a technical infrastructure that includes a single primary Internet Service Provider (ISP) and a state-mandated Internet exchange point (IXP); this combination makes filtering relatively easy to implement. Our testing suggests that Bahrain’s filtering efforts have eased recently, as sites that were previously blocked, such as Voice of Bahrain are now available. However, the regulatory and technical infrastructure in Bahrain is such that more extensive filtering could be swiftly introduced, should the government choose to do so. In addition, recent arrests of the editors of a Web site, and the blocking of the site, indicate that Bahrain continues to combine technical and legal controls for on-line content.

http://www.opennetinitiative.net/studies/bahrain/