Comparative Analysis of Media Censorship in the United Kingdom and UAE

This essay provides a comparative analysis of media censorship in the UK and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It begins by examining internet censorship, revealing that the UK generally enjoys greater freedom of the net compared to the UAE, with the latter blocking content more frequently. The essay then explores news censorship, highlighting that the UAE's media landscape is heavily government-controlled, leading to less press freedom than in the UK. Finally, the analysis extends to arts and entertainment, showing that the UAE imposes stricter regulations on content distribution and artistic expression compared to the UK. The conclusion emphasizes that while the UAE is improving, it still lags behind the UK in terms of media censorship, which is viewed as a tool for governmental control. The essay utilizes reports from Freedom House, Reporters Without Borders, and other sources to support its arguments, offering a comprehensive overview of media freedom in both nations.

Running head: MEDIA CENSORSHIP
Media Censorship
Name of the University
Name of the Student
Author note

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Censorship of the media is nothing new in the modern world. Abbasi and Al-Sharqi
(2015) argue that contemporary governments apply the technique to censorship with a view to
hide certain information from the public eye that could risk their authority. The authors further
point out that the restriction imposed by governments on the use of internet in the name of useful
censorship is nothing but a tactic to shut their opposition. The given essay provides a
comparative analysis of media censorship in the UK and UAE.
The essay begins with an attempt to analyze the similarities and differences of internet
censorship in the two countries. The United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates both are liberal
monarchial confederations. While the UK is a developed nation, UAE is a rapidly developing
state with immense opportunities. The new media, which is the internet in both countries, is
accessed by almost entire population. However, both countries have witnessed a decline in the
freedom on the net as per the reports published in Freedom House. According to the report, UAE
scored 69 whereas UK scored 24, in a scale of zero to hundred. These statistics also indicate a
contrast between internet censorship in the UAE and the UK (Freedomhouse.org 2018). It shows
that UK has a better status when it comes to freedom of the net than UAE. Another report
published by Freedom House revealed that in 2017, the UAE government blocked contents on
the web that had issues related to the crisis between Qatar and other countries in the Middle East.
In contrast to it, no reports of blocking sites were registered in the UK (Freedomhouse.org 2018).
This establishes the fact that internet censorship is stricter in UAE than in UK.
This segment explores news censorship in both countries. In this regard, the differences
are more glaring between the two countries than the similarities. Most of the news agencies are
controlled by the government in UAE. In addition, the government funds several media houses.
Reporters Without Borders has placed the UAE at 118 out of 180 countries in the world with

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least freedom of the press and UK being placed at 40 (RSF.org 2018). This shows that the press
in UK enjoys more freedom than it does in the UAE. Furthermore, International Campaign for
Freedom in UAE (ICFUAE) states that despite being designated as an international media hub,
the media suffers from “highly repressive” rules and regulations. Further, it states that television
broadcasting in the country also has strict restrictions as most of the channels are regulated
directly or indirectly by the government (Icfuae.org.uk 2018). The case is different in the UK.
Although certain laws have been passed by the government in recent years to curb press
freedom, the press there enjoys relatively better environment than UAE. However, as per the
views of the Committee to Protect Journalists, Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013
passed by the UK government might curb press freedom. The press community in the country is
staging numerous protests against the law (CPJ.org 2018). These facts reveal that press freedom
is not completely enjoyed either by UK or by UAE. It is but imperative to mention that UAE lags
far behind when it comes to electronic and print media regulations than UK.
In the final segment, the arts and entertainment media censorship in the two countries
shall be examined. In this section too, UAE and UK have more differences than similarities. One
of the most visible differences is the restrictions imposed upon the distributors regarding the
content of any movie. In an article published in Thegazelle.org (2018), it was found that the art
and media industry had to follow rigorous regulations from the government. In addition, the
article also stated that censorship was so severe in the country that even students pursuing media
as a major subject were not allowed to show their creations in public without government
permission. As per the reports of Freemuse.org (2018), the authorities in UAE banned numerous
arts pieces, short films and feature films because they felt that it was against a particular sect or
the royal family. In contrast to this, arts and media industry in UK enjoys a great freedom.

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Overall, it can be observed that both countries have certain regulations when it comes to letting
any work of art being displayed in public. However, certain instances show that UAE exerts
more censorship of the media than does UK.
To conclude, it can be stated that although UAE lags behind UK in media censorship, it is
showing improvement. As the essay portrayed, media censorship is a tactic employed by
respective governments to possess control over their subjects. By doing, the comparative analysis
between UAE and UK provided a greater insight into the issue of media censorship. The
analysis found that UK is more flexible when it comes to regulating the media than UAE. It has
been learnt that the internet is the most influential media in today’s world and it has helped
people get access to news easily with limited government interference.

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References:
Abbasi, I.S. and Al-Sharqi, L., 2015. Media censorship: Freedom versus responsibility. Journal
of Law and Conflict Resolution, 7(4), pp.21-24.
CPJ.org (2018). UK's Section 40 press law would curb independent, investigative journalism.
[online] Cpj.org. Available at: https://cpj.org/blog/2017/01/uks-section-40-press-law-would-
curb-independent-in.php [Accessed 7 Mar. 2018].
Freedomhouse.org (2018). United Arab Emirates. [online] Freedomhouse.org. Available at:
https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/2016/united-arab-emirates [Accessed 7 Mar. 2018].
Freedomhouse.org/ (2018). United Arab Emirates. [online] Freedomhouse.org. Available at:
https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2017/united-arab-emirates [Accessed 7 Mar.
2018].
Freemuse.org (2018). UAE Archives - Freemuse. [online] Freemuse. Available at:
https://freemuse.org/regions/middle-east-north-africa/uae/ [Accessed 7 Mar. 2018].
Icfuae.org.uk (2018). UAE’s Media Landscape: An Overview. [online] ICFUAE | International
Campaign For Freedom in the UAE. Available at: http://icfuae.org.uk/research-and-
publications/uae%E2%80%99s-media-landscape-overview [Accessed 7 Mar. 2018].
RSF.org (2018). United Arab Emirates : Sophisticated online surveillance | Reporters without
borders. [online] RSF. Available at: https://rsf.org/en/united-arab-emirates [Accessed 7 Mar.
2018].

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Thegazelle.org (2018). The Creatively Subversive: Art and Censorship in the UAE | The Gazelle.
[online] The Gazelle. Available at: https://www.thegazelle.org/issue/43/opinion/reyes [Accessed
7 Mar. 2018].

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English for Academic Purposes
Plan & Outline
Compare and contrast the media censorship in two countries.
Introduction
Censorship of the media is nothing new in the modern world. Abbasi and Al-Sharqi
(2015) argue that contemporary governments apply the technique to censorship with a view to
hide certain information from the public eye that could risk their authority. The authors further
point out that the restriction imposed by governments on the use of internet in the name of useful
censorship is nothing but a tactic to shut their opposition. The given essay provides a
comparative analysis of media censorship in the UK and UAE.
Body Paragraph 1
Subtopic: Internet
Similarities - The United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates both are liberal monarchial
confederations. While the UK is a developed nation, UAE is a rapidly developing state with
immense opportunities. The new media, which is the internet in both countries, is accessed by
almost entire population. However, both countries have witnessed a decline in the freedom on
the net as per the reports published in Freedom House
Differences - According to the report, UAE scored 69 whereas UK scored 24, in a scale of zero
to hundred. These statistics also indicate a contrast between internet censorship in the UAE and
Name: _________________________________

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the UK (Freedomhouse.org 2018). It shows that UK has a better status when it comes to freedom
of the net than UAE. Another report published by Freedom House revealed that in 2017, the
UAE government blocked contents on the web that had issues related to the crisis between Qatar
and other countries in the Middle East. In contrast to it, no reports of blocking sites were
registered in the UK (Freedomhouse.org 2018). This establishes the fact that internet censorship
is stricter in UAE than in UK.
Body Paragraph 2
Subtopic: News Censorship
Similarities - In this regard, the differences are more glaring between the two countries than the
similarities
Differences - In addition, the government funds several media houses. Reporters Without
Borders has placed the UAE at 118 out of 180 countries in the world with least freedom of the
press and UK being placed at 40 (RSF.org 2018). This shows that the press in UK enjoys more
freedom than it does in the UAE. Furthermore, International Campaign for Freedom in UAE
(ICFUAE) states that despite being designated as an international media hub, the media suffers
from “highly repressive” rules and regulations. Further, it states that television broadcasting in
the country also has strict restrictions as most of the channels are regulated directly or indirectly
by the government (Icfuae.org.uk 2018). The case is different in the UK. Although certain laws
have been passed by the government in recent years to curb press freedom, the press there enjoys
relatively better environment than UAE. However, as per the views of the Committee to Protect
Journalists, Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 passed by the UK government might
curb press freedom. The press community in the country is staging numerous protests against the

8
MEDIA CENSORSHIP
law (CPJ.org 2018). These facts reveal that press freedom is not completely enjoyed either by
UK or by UAE. It is but imperative to mention that UAE lags far behind when it comes to
electronic and print media regulations than UK.
Body Paragraph 3
Subtopic: Arts and Entertainment
Similarities - In this section too, UAE and UK have more differences than similarities
Differences - One of the most visible differences is the restrictions imposed upon the distributors
regarding the content of any movie. In an article published in Thegazelle.org (2018), it was
found that the art and media industry had to follow rigorous regulations from the government. In
addition, the article also stated that censorship was so severe in the country that even students
pursuing media as a major subject were not allowed to show their creations in public without
government permission. As per the reports of Freemuse.org (2018), the authorities in UAE
banned numerous arts pieces, short films and feature films because they felt that it was against a
particular sect or the royal family. In contrast to this, arts and media industry in UK enjoys a
great freedom. Overall, it can be observed that both countries have certain regulations when it
comes to letting any work of art being displayed in public. However, certain instances show that
UAE exerts more censorship of the media than does UK.
Conclusion
To conclude, it can be stated that although UAE lags behind UK in media censorship, it is
showing improvement. As the essay portrayed, media censorship is a tactic employed by
respective governments to possess control over their subjects. By doing, the comparative analysis
between UAE and UK provided a greater insight into the issue of media censorship. The

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analysis found that UK is more flexible when it comes to regulating the media than UAE. It has
been learnt that the internet is the most influential media in today’s world and it has helped
people get access to news easily with limited government interference.