Security ‘Tightens’ on Insulting Bloggers, Various Network Sites in Kuwait

GCID Closely Monitors Web to Protect Public

Arab Times, Kuwait City, July 19, 2011: The security authorities have stepped up measures to track down bloggers and Twitter users, who insult prominent personalities in the country on their websites and various social networking sites, reports Al-Dar daily quoting sources.

Sources explained this came after the authorities received complaints from a number of officials, religious leaders, businessmen, economists and politicians, among other alleged victims of moral defamation through the electronic media.

Sources disclosed the authorities have identified several bloggers and Twitter users engaged in such acts and they will be referred soon to the State Security Department for interrogation.

On claims that there is no law criminalizing the act of publishing offensive articles or statements on websites, sources clarified the state officials and security authorities do not tolerate those who malign others.

“Slandering the symbols of the state or any person is punishable by law regardless of the methods used to carry out such acts,” sources added.

Sources confirmed there is a section at the General Criminal Investigations Department (GCID) specialized in electronic crimes and it closely monitors websites to protect the public against those who do nothing but to insult others.

In a related development, a highly reliable source disclosed the Ministry of Interior has a series of extensive meetings with its communications ministry, during which they discussed ways to stop the publication of offensive statements and the proposal to block certain websites.

Arab Times Link