huridocs-tech Free expression and censorship in Middle East

Edited/Distributed by HURINet - The Human Rights Information Network
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DATE=8/5/1999
TYPE=ENGLISH PROGRAMS FEATURE
TITLE="THE INTERNET IN THE MIDEAST AND NORTH AFRICA."
(Q&A)
NUMBER=7-32504
BYLINE=DAN NOBLE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
EDITOR=NANCY SMART

INTRO:   Human Rights Watch, a private organization has
monitored human rights abuses around the world since 1978.
A recent report discusses the role of technology in the
monitoring process. Eric Goldstein of Human Rights Watch is
author of  a study titled "The Internet in the Mideast and
North Africa: Free Expression and Censorship." He speaks
with VOA's Dan Noble.

TAPE: NOBLE INT W/ERIC GOLDSTEIN

DN:   Mr. Goldstein, how effective is the Internet as a way
to further human rights around the world?

EG:   It is a tool that human rights organizations are using
in an increasing number of countries.  Its great advantage
is that human rights organizations generally aren't loaded
with money, and often don't have access to national media.
So, it's an effective way for them to communicate to
audiences abroad and also to other small organizations to
get information out very quickly.  And, also if their
information is being suppressed by the government it's a way
around that very often.

DN:   How do you measure the Internet's effectiveness?

ER:   The Internet can be used in good ways and bad ways as
far as we are concerned.  It's not an inherently liberating
medium.  It's generally effective in breaking down
government control on information. But, governments can also
use the Internet to conduct survelliance of dissidents or
human rights organizations as well.  So, its future is not
inherently democratizing.

DN:   Mr. Goldstein, I think you make the case in your
report, "The Internet in the Mideast and North Africa" that
countries can establish firewalls - in other words, means to
limit Internet access to their citizens.

EG:   They can do that and just as computer technicians are
developing ways to evade censorship, and evade filtering,
governments are advancing technology to conduct surveillance
and to maintain the ability to filter what people are able
to see.  In the long term I think the governments know they
are fighting a losing battle.  But, over the short term,
they can dramatically affect what people are able to view
and do over the Internet.

DN:   For example, what is the impact on the countries you
research - the countries in the Mideast and North Africa?

EG:   It's quite varied.  There's no single model. But, it
is fair to say that the Internet has lagged in the Mideast
and North Africa, well behind other regions in terms of the
number of people connected.  This has something to do with
the governments' fear of losing their grip on information.
Remember, this is a region where governments generally
censor the press and control broadcasting.  They are not
about to allow this new medium to go completely unregulated.
So, you have countries that have not yet allowed any
Internet access, such as Libya and Iraq and Syria -- which
has not allowed it to its public, although government
institutions have it -- to countries like Morocco, Egypt and
Jordan where, while the price of connecting is high, once
people are connected they are pretty free to do what they
want to do.

DN:   What are some of the human rights issues that are
addressed in this region, using the Internet?

EG:   For example, newspapers that have been censored in
Egypt and Jordan, that turned around, after being censored,
and posted their stories online.  Sometimes the stories that
are censored are about torture and other human rights
issues. There are political parties, or movements, that are
banned - such as Algeria's Islamic Salvation Front.  But,
they are very present on the Web through websites that are
maintained by their followers, or sympathizers living
overseas.  Those sites are viewable by Algerians, whether
they live in diaspora, or in Algeria.

DN:   Any predictions for the future?

EG:   I think that the Mideast is now picking up speed.
There are now more and more people being connected -
particularly in the more affluent Gulf countries.  Over the
long term there will be some efforts by governments to
regulate the Internet.  But, at the same time, I think they
are going to focus more on getting their own act together in
cyberspace by getting their message out, find out how they
can exploit the Internet, rather than trying at all costs to
clamp down and regulate and censor the Internet.  In the
long run that just is not going to work.

DN:   Thank you, very much, Mr. Goldstein.  We've been
speaking with Eric Goldstein, deputy director of the Middle
East and North Africa division of Human Rights Watch.  I'm
Dan Noble. Neb/dn/nes

05-Aug-1999 11:50 AM EDT (05-Aug-1999 1550 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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