Saudi Gazette report

DAMMAM — A number of Saudi cultural attaches around the world have asked scholarship students to be strictly abide by the rules and regulations of their host countries concerning the use of the Internet.

They warned the students that any misuse of the Internet might result in lawsuits that might culminate in imprisonment.

The Saudi cultural attache in Australia, in a circular to the students, said the Canberra government has issued stern security measures against misusing the Internet.

"Though Australia supports the freedom of speech, browsing and publishing, yet there are restrictions on the use of the Internet, which the students should strictly observe," the circular said.

The attache said the Australian government has a list of prohibited sites on the Internet and asked the students to take this into consideration.

It said the government had prohibited downloading or viewing the websites protected under the law of the intellectual property rights such as downloading unlicensed films and music.

The attache said the Australian government had also banned visiting or promoting the sites that advocate suicide, violence or extremism.

It recalled that under Australian laws, possessing pornographic material about children is a crime to be punished by seven years in prison.

The Saudi cultural attache in the US also advised the students against visiting the unlawful websites.

In Ireland and France the attaches asked the students to read carefully the instructions of the two countries concerning the use of the Internet. They said the two countries consider misusing the Internet as a cyber crime punishable by law.