Bahrain

Overview

Bahrain has prioritized industrial and economic growth since it declared independence in 1971; in recent years this has included active ICT development. The country was quick to adopt the Internet when it arrived in 2000, and the percentage of Bahrainis using the Internet has grown rapidly—from about 6 percent of the population in 2000 to 88 percent in 2012. In 2011, long-standing points of economic and political contention between the Sunni majority and Shia minority erupted in widespread civil unrest. The government called in troops from neighboring Saudi Arabia to contain protesters. However, since the crackdown, the number of Bahrainis expressing themselves online has risen. In turn, the government has tightened control of the Internet to include active use of spyware against citizens. Civil society groups are increasingly using personal blogs and social network sites like Facebook and Twitter to organize and express criticism of the government, but this activity is becoming more and more dangerous.

Access

Bahrain’s quick adoption of the Internet when it arrived in 2000 was followed by sustained and rapid growth in usage—from about 6 percent of the population in 2000 to 88 percent in 2012. These significant increases in access are in part attributable to Bahrain’s excellent ICT infrastructure, which includes modern fiber-optic integrated services and a well-developed and growing digital network of mobile-cellular phones. In 2010, the mobile-cellular subscription rate was 124.2 per 100 inhabitants (in other words, more than one subscription per person).

Control

While Bahrain boasts a high rate of Internet penetration, it is also known for having high levels of Internet filtering and monitoring. Reporters Without Borders named Bahrain to their 2013 list of “state enemies of the Internet.” The report details extensive government use of spyware on its citizens as well as email attacks containing malware attachments. One piece of advanced spyware used by the Bahraini government is FinFisher. According to research from Bahrain Watch and Citizen Lab, FinFisher has the potential to spy on computers, control webcams, and record keystrokes, Skype conversations, and mobile phone conversations. Censorship and surveillance has been particularly rampant during the past three years. Ubiquitous filters catch communication around issues deemed potentially inflammatory by the government, such as human rights violations, anti-government critiques, or discussion of the Shiite community. Pornography sites are also blocked. Additionally, comments on Facebook and blogs containing remarks against the royal family are targeted for censorship. Reporters without Borders also reports that Twitter, which is popular among civilians and government officials, has been used by the government to trap users into clicking a link that captures their IP address and notifies authorities, leading to arrests.

Activity

Overall, government intrusions on online activity have not deterred Bahrainis from getting online. Reporters Without Borders has noted that the activist community in Bahrain is “organized but closely watched.” Ubiquitous surveillance has pushed Internet users to be creative with communication and to think collaboratively about ways to counter the government’s intrusive measures. Networking and sharing information publicly outside the country has proven to be successful for organizations like Bahrain Watch, an independent research and advocacy group that publishes reports and maintains a blog online.