Israel
Overview
Israel was an early adopter of the Internet and, as of 2012, has an Internet penetration rate of over 73 percent. The state’s investment in ICT has made Internet a central part of Israeli life; the country ranks among the highest in the world
Access
Prior to 2001, Internet access in Israel was expensive, and most domestic Internet traffic was routed through the academic networks of Israeli universities or directly between ISPs. In 2001, the laws were amended to allow broadband Internet through the cable infrastructure and competition between ISPs. These changes helped lower costs, increase speeds, and enable widespread Internet access. The percentage of households using broadband went from 4 percent in 2002 to 62 percent in 2006, and prices for broadband Internet access dropped to around 9.00 USD per month. Additionally, in 2009, Israel’s major cellular service providers began offering independent Internet access, which gave citizens a second means of access, increased Internet penetration, and began driving down Internet service costs. The growth of Israel’s ICT infrastructure can in part be attributed to its effort to cultivate a domestic tech sector capable of competing on the global stage. In 2010, The Economist ranked Israel 26th in its Digital Economy Rankings and noted that the country’s tech industry was one of the few industries to continue growing despite the global economic recession that began in 2008.
Control
While Israel's legal framework largely protects freedom of expression and the press, certain kinds of speech are prohibited. Hate speech, praising violence, expressions supporting terrorist organizations, libel, and calling for the destruction of the Israeli state are all expressly prohibited. In 1945, censorship of the media was legitimized, and the military was authorized to ban the importing, exporting, or printing of material likely to cause damage to the security of Israel. Modern censorship of information operates through voluntary agreements between the military and the Israeli Committee of Daily Newspaper Editors. Even though these agreements lack full consent from media in the country, all media organizations operating in Israel must abide by the censor's decisions. Despite these limitations on free press and free speech, Israel has not yet established an explicit policy of filtering the Internet. Several groups, including the Ultraorthodox Party Shas, have introduced Internet censorship legislation without success. Private filtering companies provide “Kosher” content blocking equipment for personal homes or private institutions specifically designed for Israeli users, but it is difficult to determine how popular these services have become in Israel. Open Net Initiative testing on Israel's five Internet Service Providers in 2009 found that ISPs offer voluntary filtering for sexual content and sites considered to be immoral. The ONI found that content critical of the Israeli government—from Palestinian groups such as Hamas, militant organization like Hezbollah, and human rights organizations—was not filtered in Israel.
Activity
Limits and regulations on Israeli digital technologies and networks continue to be points of political contention. In April 2013, Israel's Security Agency was given legal authority to search the contents of foreigners' email accounts if they wish to enter the country. Rumors that Israel planned to disconnect the Internet in Gaza in November 2012 caused Egyptian activists and Anonymous to post various guides or tips for staying connected during an Internet shutdown. Israeli’s highly developed Internet market has made it a leader in producing cyber warfare and surveillance technologies, some of which have been exported to countries like Nigeria and the US. Israeli computer security companies are also successful outside Israel and produce high quality anti-spyware tools for computers and mobile devices which are used across the digital world.
Prior to 2001, Internet access in Israel was expensive, and most domestic Internet traffic was routed through the academic networks of Israeli universities or directly between ISPs. In 2001, the laws were amended to allow broadband Internet through the cable infrastructure and competition between ISPs. These changes helped lower costs, increase speeds, and enable widespread Internet access. The percentage of households using broadband went from 4 percent in 2002 to 62 percent in 2006, and prices for broadband Internet access dropped to around 9.00 USD per month. Additionally, in 2009, Israel’s major cellular service providers began offering independent Internet access, which gave citizens a second means of access, increased Internet penetration, and began driving down Internet service costs. The growth of Israel’s ICT infrastructure can in part be attributed to its effort to cultivate a domestic tech sector capable of competing on the global stage. In 2010, The Economist ranked Israel 26th in its Digital Economy Rankings and noted that the country’s tech industry was one of the few industries to continue growing despite the global economic recession that began in 2008.
While Israel's legal framework largely protects freedom of expression and the press, certain kinds of speech are prohibited. Hate speech, praising violence, expressions supporting terrorist organizations, libel, and calling for the destruction of the Israeli state are all expressly prohibited. In 1945, censorship of the media was legitimized, and the military was authorized to ban the importing, exporting, or printing of material likely to cause damage to the security of Israel. Modern censorship of information operates through voluntary agreements between the military and the Israeli Committee of Daily Newspaper Editors. Even though these agreements lack full consent from media in the country, all media organizations operating in Israel must abide by the censor's decisions. Despite these limitations on free press and free speech, Israel has not yet established an explicit policy of filtering the Internet. Several groups, including the Ultraorthodox Party Shas, have introduced Internet censorship legislation without success. Private filtering companies provide “Kosher” content blocking equipment for personal homes or private institutions specifically designed for Israeli users, but it is difficult to determine how popular these services have become in Israel. Open Net Initiative testing on Israel's five Internet Service Providers in 2009 found that ISPs offer voluntary filtering for sexual content and sites considered to be immoral. The ONI found that content critical of the Israeli government—from Palestinian groups such as Hamas, militant organization like Hezbollah, and human rights organizations—was not filtered in Israel.
Limits and regulations on Israeli digital technologies and networks continue to be points of political contention. In April 2013, Israel's Security Agency was given legal authority to search the contents of foreigners' email accounts if they wish to enter the country. Rumors that Israel planned to disconnect the Internet in Gaza in November 2012 caused Egyptian activists and Anonymous to post various guides or tips for staying connected during an Internet shutdown. Israeli’s highly developed Internet market has made it a leader in producing cyber warfare and surveillance technologies, some of which have been exported to countries like Nigeria and the US. Israeli computer security companies are also successful outside Israel and produce high quality anti-spyware tools for computers and mobile devices which are used across the digital world.