SAM |SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties issued a report on the blocking of news websites in Yemen and what it constitutes a violation of digital rights and the right to access information, reviewing (the report) a number of facts and data within this context.
The report stated that since the war, "nearly 80 newspapers, magazines, and radio stations have stopped, not to mention the blocking of more than 200 local and external news websites for observers in Yemen," noting that the restriction on freedom of media practice and the blocking of news websites comes in the context of the ruling authorities' efforts to obscure the media message. which contradicts her narrative, as well as her desire to isolate Yemenis from the outside world.
The report issued by SAM pointed out that blocking news websites was a policy followed, in the previous era, noting that "internet censorship is not new to Yemen and is not unique to the Houthis, as many opposition websites were blocked under the rule of former President Ali Abdullah." Saleh, and it is still difficult to access such sites under the Houthi regime.”
The report issued by the Digital Rights Project, in "SAM" in cooperation with the "Internews" organization, indicated that media freedoms in Yemen witnessed a terrible collapse and an unprecedented decline, in a way in which it seemed as if it was regressing backwards in a geometric progression, which made Yemen one. It is one of the worst countries in "media freedoms", ranking 169th in the World Press Index.
The report considered that polarization dominates the Yemeni media scene, which remains divided between the various parties to the conflict, as journalists have no choice but to agree with the line drawn by the existing authority in the areas where they live and work, adding that "the media reflects one of the most powerful propaganda services." "With us or against us" is the current motto of the media and journalists in the country.
The report inferred the seizure of the Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah.net website, by the United States government, according to a seizure order issued by the Bureau of Industry and Security, and the FBI, in June 2021, calling (the report) the US administration to lift the blocking of the site because the confiscation decision contradicts the Freedom of speech.
The "SAM" report stated that the procedures for blocking news websites and the content of media materials, which were uploaded or replaced in the accounts of the hacked sites on Twitter and YouTube for Al-Alam, Al-Masirah and the London-based Al-Hayat newspaper, reveal that the electronic media war between the electronic Decisive Storm and the Yemeni Electronic Army is a continuation of the political and military conflict through Using the information against the information, and preventing the other party from using it.
The report considered that the change in the "equation of control and subjugation" in favor of the Houthi group made it the party authorized - according to its belief - to liquidate and block news sites that contradict its policy and direction, based on the conspiracy and annihilation theory, "He who is not with us is against us," according to the report.
The report indicated that "YemenNet", the Internet service provider in Yemen, used Websense in the past to filter political and social content, which prompted the company to suspend its services provided to "YemenNet", which prompted the Internet service provider in Yemen to filter the "Netsweber" system. Provided by a Canadian internet content filtering company, through which the Houthi authorities blocked internet content in the country.
The report added that the “Netsweber” technology was used to filter important political content and independent media websites, which is a major expansion of the Internet censorship system in Yemen after the Houthi takeover of the capital, Sana’a, in September 2014, noting that political content and local news are blocked using this technology. in a non-transparent manner by giving users network error messages instead of explicit blocking pages.
The report, prepared by SAM in cooperation with Internews, stated that the procedures for blocking news websites are illegal and lack legitimacy and valid justifications, as they were not subject to constitutional and legal directives as much as they were subject to the prevailing political mood of the existing authorities.
The report also considered that the blocking policy is a dangerous step and a repressive measure that threatens media freedoms and violates the right to access information, and digital rights in general, pointing out that the blocking of news websites led to the deprivation of dozens of journalists from their jobs, and caused a decrease in the financial revenues that were obtained by the blocked websites. For posting advertisements.
Those in charge of the "Digital Rights Project in Yemen" stressed the need for all electronic tools and windows to be far from conflict and polarization, and not to turn into a tool for blackmail and intimidation, and to be a means for expressing opinion, calling on the conflicting parties to abide by the principles of media freedoms, and to ensure the protection of rights. Digital rights and the right to access information, and avoid subjecting and adapting it to the mood of the ruling authorities.
The report called on the Houthi authorities to unblock news websites and avoid restricting access to the Internet or censoring news content in any way.
SAM also called on the United Nations and international human rights organizations to include the "communications" file in the agenda of any upcoming negotiations between the parties to the conflict in Yemen, and to exert maximum pressure on them in order to neutralize this sector and remove it from the circle of conflicts, and oblige the Yemeni parties not to Using "communications" as a means to achieve political or military gain.
To read the full report, click on the link: Blocking news websites in Yemen...and violating digital rights
