Digital Policy Tracker
Middle East
When 30.09.2021 Where UAE, Middle East Who UAE
IThe index issued by the IMD World Competitiveness Center (WCC) of the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) shows that the UAE leads the Middle East and North African and outperforms some major economies, such as Finland, Canada, the UK, Australia, China, Germany, France, Japan and Belgium. The UAE’s rapid advancement in digital competitiveness follows a regional trend in the Gulf, where countries have been pushing for a strong wave of digital services.
#digitalization #digitalcompetitveness #digitalservices
When 21.08.2021 Where Afghanistan, Middle East Who Taliban
The Taliban, who banned the internet when they first took control of Afghanistan, have turned social media into a powerful tool for taming opposition and disseminating their message. They use thousands of Twitter accounts — some official, others anonymous — to pacify Afghanistan's terrified but increasingly tech-savvy urban base. Yet, the portrayal of Afghanistan through their posts is a poor indicator of public opinion and the current situation. Many critics of the Taliban and supporters of the US-backed government have gone underground for security reasons. Yet, the Taliban have already demonstrated that they can effectively sell their message, as evidenced by a recent social media campaign that may have influenced Afghan security forces to lay down their weapons.
#socialmedia #censorship #propaganda
When 26.07.2021 Where Iran, Middle East Who Iranian Parliament
Iran’s parliament has suspended its review of the “Protecting Users in Cyberspace and Organising Social Media” bill, which, according to civil society, businesses and some ministries could lead to excessive restrictions of the Internet. The bill was proposed three years ago and it includes a controversial article on foreign service providers, which could be forced to follow Iran’s rules in order to provide their services in the country. According to the Iranian Minister of Information and Communications Technology, “the bill will limit users’ free access to information, weaken the government’s role in cyberspace decision-making, and make the ministry practically obsolete.” The legislation also intends to criminalise the use of banned services, such as VPNs. The implementation of this measure could severely endanger freedom of speech, by filtering too much the flow of information in Iran.
#contentmoderation #censorship # freedomofspeech
When 24.06.2021 Where Palestine, Middle East Who Palestinian Monetary Authority
The Palestinian Monetary Authority is evaluating the possible issuance of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) through two separate studies on cryptocurrencies. The introduction of a national digital currency would aim to replace the current use of the Israeli shekel, the Jordanian dinar, and the U.S. dollar in the country. The goal would be to establish a more stable currency and obtain financial independence from the neighbouring countries. Yet, the adoption of a Palestinian CBDC is still uncertain due to the current economic situation, worsened by the political instability in the region and the Covid-19 pandemic. Studies on the adoption of CBDC are being undertaken across geographies. In cases such as El Salvador, they are also being evaluated to gain monetary independence from foreign currencies.
#cryptocurrencies #cryptoregulations #CBDC
When 30.05.2021 Where Saudi Arabia, Middle East Who ICT Commission
Saudi Arabia's Communications and Information Technology Commission announced the implementation of a new cybersecurity regulatory framework for service providers in the communications, IT, and postal sector. The regulation contains a comprehensive set of cybersecurity requirements and controls that will establish a high level of confidence in the integrity of service providers' infrastructure and the application of best practices to develop appropriate cybersecurity measures. This framework has been put in place as part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program, aiming to accelerate primary and digital infrastructure projects to raise living standards in the kingdom.
#cybersecurity #criticalinfrastructure
When 30.05.2021 Where Palestine, Middle East Who Instagram
Instagram is changing its app to show more viral and current affairs posts amid complaints from its staff that pro-Palestinian content was not seen by users during the recent conflict in Gaza. Up until now, Instagram has prioritized original content over the one reshared or reposted by other people. Yet, as a spokesperson for the company said, this “caused people to believe we were suppressing stories about particular topics or points of view”. Following the recent internal concerns and appeals, the company announced that it will move to give equal weighting to reshared posts as it does with originally produced stories. Instagram said the move was not wholly in response to the problems over pro-Palestinian content but had been considered for some time.
#onlinecontentmoderation #algorythms #socialmedia
When 14.05.2021 Where Israel, Middle East Who Social Media Platforms
The Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz met with Tiktok and Facebook representatives to urge them to be more proactive in removing violent content against Israel. The meeting happened at a time of escalation between Israel and Palestine.
#onlinecontentmoderation #socialmedia #harmfulcontent
When 10.05.2021 Where Iran, Middle East Who Majlis
Due to the rise in the use of cryptocurrencies in the country, experts and private sector representatives have pushed the parliament to better regulate cryptocurrencies transactions by reducing the bureaucracy tied to obtaining government licenses. The Majlis is already developing a legal framework to allow crypto trade, and it will soon publish an official roadmap to implement new regulations. This call for laws happens when cryptocurrencies are becoming increasingly popular among Iranians, disappointed by the sluggish bourse and the pattern of decline in other financial markets.
#cryptocurrencies #digitalpayments #cryptoregulations
When 19.04.2021 Where Iraq, Middle East Who Central Bank of Iraq, Mastercard
The new agreement between the Central Bank of Iraq and Mastercard will aim to reduce the use of cash in the country and promote digital payments. By digitalizing its payment ecosystem, Iraq will boost financial inclusion, encourage social-economic development and mitigate the risks of a shadow economy. The implementation of this new partnership will initially focus on building secure payment ecosystem within the education sector. Yet, the project will develop into a full digital ecosystem.
#fintech #digitalpayments
When 14.03.2021 Where Oman, Middle East Who Telcom Regulatory Authority, Clubhouse
The Omani Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has blocked the Clubhouse voice chat app, as it did not obtain a permit to operate in the country. Human Rights associations warn that the block might be linked to issues over freedom of speech.
#censorship #freedomofexpression #encryption
When 11.03.2021 Where Saudi Arabia, Middle East Who KSA Digital Governemnt Authority
The Saudi Arabian’s cabinet approved the establishment of a Digital Governemnt Authority, to lead the digital transformation of the country. This decision is in line with the Kingdom’s goal of becoming the “leading digital economy of the Middle East”. The Digital Governement Authority will be in charge of the creation and development of digital platforms to provide better digital interactions between “citizens to government, government to citizens, and government to businesses”. The GDA will also play an essential role for the “Saudi Vision 2030” campaign, which aims at establishing the Kingdom as one of the top countries in e-governance.
#e-governance #digitaltransformation #onlineplatforms
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