Showing 4 results for:
saudi-arabia
Popular topics
All results
In February, fourteen members of Congress called on Apple and Google to remove Absher, a Saudi Arabian app allowing men to track women. Now, Google refuses to pull the app because it doesn’t violate any policies, according to Business Insider . Absher partially functions as a regular government app where Saudi users can request passports, birth certificates, etc. However, Insider reported Absher allows men to track their female relatives, including receiving SMS alerts when women use their passports. After Congress members called on both companies to respond by February 28, Google has come back saying it “meets all their terms and conditions,” according to Business Insider. Rep. Jackie Speier told Business Insider that the response was “deeply unsatisfactory,” adding, “Not only do they have the capability to take action, they have done so previously with the removal of the Living Hope Ministries app, which encouraged users to ‘convert’ LGBTQ individuals, based on its ability to...
Nearly two weeks ago, human rights activists called upon Apple and Google to Absher that allows men to track women. However, despite their pledges to look into it, neither company has said anything since. Now, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar and a host of other democratic lawmakers have written a letter backing up previous demands and calling on both companies to respond by the end of the month, Insider reported . Absher acts like a regular government app, allowing people to request passports, birth certificates, etc. However, the app allows men to restrict women’s travel and people can set up SMS alerts to track when women use their passports, according to Insider’s earlier report . The concern isn’t only for Saudi Arabian women, as Absher’s own description on Google Play and iTunes states, “you can safely browse your profile or your family members, or labors working for you.” Migrant workers in Saudi Arabia face exploitation and abuse and often have their passports withheld. Many...
Both Apple and Google are being called upon to remove a Saudi app that allows men to track their female relatives’ movements and potentially restrict their travel. The app, Absher, partially functions as an e-services portal allowing people to request passports, birth certificates, vehicle registration, and other forms of documentation. However, the app’s description on both Google Play and iTunes says, “you can safely browse your profile or your family members, or labors working for you, and perform a wide range of eServices online.” In Saudi Arabia, women live under a “guardianship” system , and as a part of it, they are the legal dependent of a man. This has led to women’s travel being restricted within the country, which the app has the potential to further exacerbate. Business Insider reported the app allows men to “specify when and how women can cross Saudi borders, and get close to real-time SMS updates when they travel.” The Washington Post reported Amnesty International...
Netflix pulled a “Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj” episode that was critical of Saudi Arabia after the Saudi government said the company violated the country’s cybercrime laws, according to the Financial Times. “Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj” features stand-up comedy by Minhaj that incorporates political and social commentary. For his “Saudi Arabia” episode he criticized Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s involvement in the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Minhaj also encouraged major American companies including Uber and Softbank to stop taking money from the country. The Saudi government cited Article 6 of its Anti-Cyber Crime Law which prohibits “the production, preparation, transmission, or storage of material impinging on public order, religious values, public morals, and privacy through the information network or computers.” Article 6 also prohibits online human trafficking, gambling, pornographic material and drug trades. Journalists in...