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Bahrain seeks to clamp down on phone pornography
By Mohammed Al A'Ali
August 31, 2004
MPs are calling for a new law to combat untraceable pornographic broadcasts
between mobile phones.
Girls are reportedly being harassed by youths misusing the Bluetooth technology
now available in some mobiles.
Bluetooth can trace any similar receiver phone within 10 metres and transmit to
it without dialling up the number.
These means pictures can be broadcast without leaving any trace of who sent
them, said parliament's foreign affairs, defence and national economy committee
vice-chairman Abdulla Al Dossari.
He is proposing a new law to combat the misuse of such facilities, which can
also operate from personal computers.
Mr Al Dossari is planning to submit the proposal next week to parliament
chairman Khalifa Al Dhahrani.
Mr Al Dossari, who is also Independent Bloc spokesman, told the GDN yesterday
that the wording of the proposal was being carefully studied by the bloc's
legal adviser and would be hopefully ready by tomorrow.
"I have come up with the idea after receiving several complaints from families
saying that their daughters were being harassed by young men who send them
pornographic material using Bluetooth," he said.
"Others have also complained about pictures and clips of their daughters being
spread through mobile phones, without any trace of their origin.
"It is hard to know who sends these picture and clip messages, since dialling
up the receiver isn't needed.
"Most cases have been reported to have happened in malls, restaurants and event
at Bahrain University." Mr Al Dossari said that he was not proposing banning
Bluetooth, just regulating its use.
"Everyone acknowledges the vital role technology plays in people's lives today,
but it needs to be monitored to ensure people don't misuse it," he said.
"Batelco has thankfully helped trace many people who were misusing the
Internet, by identifying the location of the transmission, since it is being
done through a phone number."
But he said it was hard to catch those who misuse Bluetooth, since no one knows
who is sending the information, or from where.
"Bluetooth is now available amongst half of Bahrain's population and its use
has become so common," said Mr Al Dossari.
He said he hoped the proposed law would help protect people's privacy and
combat indecency.
"A similar law has been introduced last week in Kuwait and we hope that our
government will do the same," said Mr Al Dossari.
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