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Explore the rapid growth and complexities of social media in the Middle East, from the Arab Spring to present-day regulations and risks. Delve into case studies of influencers, censorship, and the impact on individuals like Jamal Khashoggi. Discover the challenges faced by activists and the dangers of expressing dissent online. Uncover how governments in the region monitor and control online communication, affecting freedom of expression and human rights.
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Social Media and the Middle East: Promise and PerilSaeed A. KhanWayne State University
The Arab Spring Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt (Feb. 2011)
End of the Arab Spring Cairo, Egypt (Summer 2013)
Social Media Penetration in the Middle East • 164 Million monthly users in Arab world (2018) • 56 Million in 2013 • Egypt- biggest market • (24 million daily; 37 million monthly mobile) • Saudi Arabia- highest annual growth rate (32%) • Twitter: <30% • YouTube: 160% growth • SnapChat: 12 million daily • Saudi Arabia: 9 million (total population: 32 million) • UAE: 1 million • Instagram: Primary vehicle for small businesses • 63% of Arab youth look first to Twitter or Facebook for news
Platform or (Bully) Pulpit? • Sondos Al Qattan • Kuwaiti Beauty Vlogger • 2.4 million followers on Instgram • Criticized Kuwaiti law enacted to protect rights of Filipino workers
“Benign” Social Media “Regulations” • Egypt • Anyone with >5000 followers can be monitored by govt • Websites must be licensed by govt • 40% South Asian, Anglo-European, African & Hispanic • 20% Arab • UAE • Social Media Influencers (SMI) must obtain license @ $4000/year
Top 6 Countries with Most Restricted Internet • China • Vietnam • Turkey • UAE • Iran • Egypt
Iran • 2017: Iran bans Telegram • App used by protesters, run by exiled journalist Roohallah Zain • 40 million on Telegram in Iran • Total population: 80 million
Turkey • Pres. Reccep Tayyip Erdogan • 2016: Shut down Social media sites during attempted coup • Routinely closes internet sites, e.g. What’sApp, Facebook, Periscope, YouTube,Twitter, etc. • Shutdowns under guise of policing politically sensitive and offensive content, e.g. insulting President • July 24, 2019: Shut down social media after rumor that he’d suffered heart attack and died
Casualty of Erdogan • “M.D. • Lawyer from Manisa • Jailed for insulting Pres. Erdogan on social media • Sentenced to 1-4 years in prison 36,664 investigated in 2018 for insulting Erdogan, Turkish nation or government officials
Another Erdogan Casualty • Busra Erdal • Columnist, Social Media Journalist • 2017: Jailed under charges of membership in a terrorist organization (FETO), Fetullah Gulen group
Israeli Security • Ben Gurion Airport, Lod, Israel • Inspection of Cell Phone, including all social media accounts AND email accounts
The Dangers of Poetry • Dareen Tatour • Palestinian poet, activist • Posted “Resist, My People” on YouTube • Jailed for 5 months for “incitement to violence” after 3 years under house arrest • One of 350 arrested in 2018 under incitement to violence charge
Criminalizing Communication • Israeli govt, under Ministry for Strategic Affairs, files complaints with Facebook, Twitter, Google, YouTube to shut down sites, especially Palestinian and/or activist sites • Crime to film security action against Palestinians
Egypt • March 2019: Supreme Media Regulatory Council authorized to block websites and accounts for “fake news,” i.e. criticism of regime
United Arab Emirates • Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid Al Makhtoum, Dubai • 2019: Coded warning to Emiratis on social media (including former police chief, Dhahi Khalfan), warning against spreading “misinformation” to attract followers that would ”imperil UAE’s reputation abroad” • Heavily policed and restricted internet access and govt surveillance of search engine inquiries
Jamal Khashoggi • Jamal Khashoggi • Saudi journalist based in US at Washington Post • Critic of Saudi regime • October, 2018: suspected murder victim at Saudi Consulate, Istanbul • US intelligence agencies suspect murder authorized by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) • De facto ruler of Saudi Arabia • Allegedly proposing sweeping reforms and liberalization of kingdom • Suspected of ordering Khashoggi’s murder • April 2019: 7 journalists, writers and academics jailed (part of 13 placed on travel ban) for criticizing regime
Social Media Dangers in Saudi Arabia • Raif Badawi • Saudi Blogger • 2012: Arrested for insulting Islam through electronic channels • Sentenced to 7 years prison and 600 lashes • Currently, still detained
Social Media Dangers in Saudi Arabia • Loujain Alhathloul • Saudi Social Media and Women’s Rights Activist • 2018: Detained for advocating women’s right to drive in Saudi Arabia • Suspected of being tortured while in prison; currently still detained
Consequences of Vlogging Arrested after posting crop midriff/skirt pic at ancient fort in Saudi Arabia
Not Just in the Middle East… • Ismail Aijawi • Palestinian from Lebanon • Admitted into Harvard • Refused entry at Boston Logan Airport after TSA inspected his phone and objected to posts by his friends on his FB page • Ultimately admitted after Harvard (in time to matriculate) and political intervention