The Ministry of Information is preparing a list of a number of websites which may have violated the Electronic Media Law related to leasing or advertising, without obtaining the necessary approvals from the competent authorities, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
Informed sources told the daily Article 13 of the aforementioned law stipulates that licenses may not be sold or transferred without the approval of the Ministry, and the conditions outlined for the issuance of the license must be adhered to. Some sites are rented annually in contravention of the law, and are not managed by their licensed owners, said the daily.
The sources stated that the security authorities have discovered the accounts of these sites and in whose name they are registered, and a number of expats operate these websites. The Minister of Information, Mohammad Al-Jabri, has been informed of the matter. These owners will be called to manage the sites themselves or their licenses will be revoked.
The sources clarified the licenses granted to some of the websites and accounts are not authorized to publish commercial advertisements, without permission from the audiovisual management department, but some in violation of the law are publishing commercial ads. The sources revealed clear instructions have been issued by Minister Al-Jabri to tighten control and hold violators to legal accountability. The sources accused some MPs and ministers of being behind such accounts that work for their interests in marketing and promotion, some of which are run from within the Parliament by expats for the interests of minsters loyal to the government.