(MENAFN Press) AMMAN --- September 13, 2012-
Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Forum hosted a seminar by HE Mr. Marwan Juma, former Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology, and CEO of Kinz.jo and dot.jo.
The seminar entitled "Internet Censorship in Jordan" and moderated by Mr. Jawad Abbassi, Founder and General Manager of Arab Advisors Group, tackled a highly controversial topic, especially with people looking to protect freedom of speech.
Juma extended his gratitude to Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization for granting him this opportunity to discuss various related issues mainly blocking websites especially the porno ones, latest legislations governing the content on the Web.
"Imposing censorship on the Internet will send the worse message ever to investors and businessmen who selected Jordan to be the destination of their businesses," Juma addressed the attendees.
"The ICT industry in the Kingdom is a truly success story that many described Jordan as the region's "Silicon Valley". We should protect this image of openness and oppose any sort of restrictions or censorship on the Net," he added.
The former minister stated that we are all against porno websites; however, he believes that there is a mix between policies and vision saying that what is currently happening of attempts to impose censorship on the Internet is incorrect.
The responsibility of using the Net lays on the users, according to Juma, who have the choice to ask the Internet Service Provider to filter their service, stressing at the same time on the role of parents of watching their children and their use of the Web.
"What we really need is collective awareness instead of wasting millions of dinars in useless attempts to impose censorship. Why don't we use these sums of money to promote awareness and educate the parents on the role they should assume," he wondered.
Juma revealed that the countries that tried to block websites have failed and wasted millions in vein.
At the same time, he highlighted the legislation in the Kingdom that fights the production of porno stuff and target minors through imposing harsh penalties and prison sentences.
An open rich discussion took place at the end of the seminar where the attendees raised several related issues.
