We Love the Proxy!
According to a feature in today's Gulf News, around one in six (16.6%) websites are blocked by Etisalat's proxy. This compares with less than 1% in Bahrain.
The plain fact is that Etisalat blocks numerous sites that cannot be considered offensive in any way. They have on occasion blocked commercial rivals, eg Skype and various SMS gateways. For some bizarre reason translation sites are also blocked. Almost every day I come across a blocked site.
Now, I know that a lot of people in the Emirates appreciate Etisalat's proxy as a kind of free kid-filter service. But I also know that it drives me crazy (and most of the serious adult web users that I know) . If you want to see dodgy sites, there are numerous ways to do it, proxy or no proxy. If you just want unfettered and speedy access to the Internet, then you should have the option of not using the proxy.
The Gulf News feature mentions the possibility of TECOM, Nakheel and Emaar subscribers being brought into line with Etisalat (ie the first lot get a proxy). And the less likely scenario of Etisalat being aligned with the others (no proxy).
But, for sure, if TECOM gets a proxy it will do enormous damage to the global reputation that the Internet and Media Cities have worked so hard to cultivate.
The plain fact is that Etisalat blocks numerous sites that cannot be considered offensive in any way. They have on occasion blocked commercial rivals, eg Skype and various SMS gateways. For some bizarre reason translation sites are also blocked. Almost every day I come across a blocked site.
Now, I know that a lot of people in the Emirates appreciate Etisalat's proxy as a kind of free kid-filter service. But I also know that it drives me crazy (and most of the serious adult web users that I know) . If you want to see dodgy sites, there are numerous ways to do it, proxy or no proxy. If you just want unfettered and speedy access to the Internet, then you should have the option of not using the proxy.
The Gulf News feature mentions the possibility of TECOM, Nakheel and Emaar subscribers being brought into line with Etisalat (ie the first lot get a proxy). And the less likely scenario of Etisalat being aligned with the others (no proxy).
But, for sure, if TECOM gets a proxy it will do enormous damage to the global reputation that the Internet and Media Cities have worked so hard to cultivate.
posted by Keef at
12:22 pm
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