The Ministry of Interior is to crackdown on cyber defamation.
The Ministry urged people subjected to online smear campaigns to report any cyber violations for legal action to be taken against the site and the slanderer.
“Complaints reporting defamatory crimes can be forwarded to the ministry’s website”, Acting General Director of Corruption Combating and Electronic and Economic Security today said, stressing the need to supply the ministry with the site for legal action to be taken.
An alarming increase in cyber defamation misusing cutting-edge communication technologies prompted the ministry to announce the clamp down.
Leading social figures have complained to the ministry, reported cyber defamation sullying their reputation along with their families.
They appealed to the ministry to counter their strange phenomenon which is alien to Bahraini authentic traditions, values and norms.
“Online smear campaigns are tarnishing the reputation of national symbols and leading public figures from different age categories”, Acting General Director of Corruption Combating and Electronic and Economic Security, said, warning that violators would be prosecuted and charged with cybercrimes as stipulated in the law.
The ministry denied in its statement any attempt to muzzle the freedom of opinion – including modern technologies.
“The measure aims at confronting violations which contravene the exercise of these rights in conformity with constitutional and legal provisions”, Acting General Director of Corruption Combating and Electronic and Economic Security said.