By Fatima Muhammad
Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — The Communication and Information Technology Commission (CITC) announced that it has controlled 900,000 links and blocked 68 percent of them. About 92 percent of the blocked links had porn contents. At least 1,300 links that the CITC controlled were harmful to children.
A CITC statement noted that it combats porn content and any child abuse that is achieved through internet or technical means. Stressing that the CITC blocks any harmful content, it said it contacts the security authorities and international organizations in charge of such violations.
The CITC has also contacted over 52,000 content providers in an attempt to prevent any spread of porn content and it also seeks to prevent internet users in the Kingdom from accessing such content.
The CITC is now working on a Parental Control System that allows parents to control the content that their children access. Among their plans also is to activate Safe Search System which reduces the access to porn content using social media and smartphone applications.
Dr. Majid Qanash, a psychiatric, said that blocking of harmful websites is only a protective measure. However, he stressed that parents should work on enhancing the religious belief and awareness among children. The families should also meet the needs of their children and put alternatives so they will not access harmful content. “The current generation tends to ask for explanation. So when you ban them from doing something they will ask for a justification. Therefore, parents need to explain why accessing such websites is harmful.”
