Every country is thriving to get higher pace of technology, each one of them desires to be the leader of innovation. But it is very much possible that some technologies may become threat to government itself and pose serious concern to its internal, external security, these calls for scrutiny over these modern technologies.
Israel bans iPad
In April 2010, the anger of tech lovers went on its peak in Israel, as the much talked about iPad became inaccessible for them. The Communications Ministry announced that it was imposing a blanket ban on the import of Apple’s new tablet computer, the iPad, citing incompatibility with the European Wi-Fi standard, which is used in Israel. For this reason, several such computers have been confiscated by customs officials at Ben-Gurion Airport. The public went furious as the ban was only revealed when several of the devices were confiscated by customs officials.
Pakistan Bans Facebook
In the year 2010, following a court’s order Pakistan officially blocked Facebook for offensive content.
A country with over 2.3 million Facebook users is temporarily restricted from its use due to a Facebook group called “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day.” Cartoon sketches of Prophet Muhammad were considered as an act of blasphemy by Muslims and this Facebook page incurred huge criticism from several Muslims.
Facebook has a history of allowing controversial groups to develop a presence on their site. From death of Obama to Holocaust denial groups, Facebook consist of groups that is considered offensive by most.
UAE and Saudi Arabia banned Blackberry
On August 2010, two Gulf States, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia announced bans on some functions of the mobile phone amid national security concerns. Users of the BlackBerry in the UAE were barred from accessing email, web browsing and instant messaging from October 2010.
Germany bans Galaxy Tab 10.1
Upholding Apple’s injunction request in the legal battle between the tech giants Apple and Samsung, German court banned the sales of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Judge Johanna Brueckner-Hoffman ruled to pull the 10.1-inch tablet from German shelves, saying the device’s “smooth, simple area” copies Apple’s iPad design.
Greece barred Google street view
In 2009, Greece restricted the Google’s drivers running in the country to mount their camera for Google street view,highlighting a growing fear among Greeks of the threat posed by new technologies. Athens’s data protection agency barred the search engine saying Google has to provide “additional information” and concrete guarantees that the service was not an invasion of personal privacy before expanding the programme to Greece.
U.S. ban iPod
iPod player are a huge companion for marathon runners, but the U.S. Track and Field competitions banned the use of iPods and headphones to avoid competitive advantage to runners. The organizers defended its ban saying that runners must focus on the marathon and not on the music.
Cuba baned cell phones
Cuba’s government had limited access to mobile phones and other products and services deemed to be luxuries in an attempt to preserve the relative economic equality that is a hallmark of life on the Communist led island.
Cubans and foreigners holding key government posts had been allowed to have cell phones since the technology first appeared in Cuba in 1991.
A major government restriction was changed since the 76-year-old Castro took over as leader of the island nation from his older brother Fidel Castro as he lifted the age old ban on April 2008.
India bans Chinese phones and gadgets
Chinese products have been doing a great business in the Indian Market as it comes in low coast but with all kinds of features. India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a directive that calls for the banning of the import of mobile phones made by Chinese manufacturers. The move comes after the Indian Home Ministry expressed concerns regarding the proliferation of Chinese handsets in India. They were worried about the spyware and malware threat that these handsets posed. The ministry was also worried that these phones will offer intelligence agencies from China, access to telecom networks in India.
Australia bans laser pointers
Australia banned laser point’s way back in 2008. The state has officially banned high-powered laser pointers specifically classifying them as ‘prohibited weapons.’ Anyone found carrying such a laser pointer in public without the Australian equivalent of a Firearms Certificate will be guilty of an offence punishable by up to fourteen years imprisonment.
UK bans Plasma TV
UK has banned energy-guzzling flatscreen plasma televisions as part of the battle against climate change.
Related articles
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 banned from sale in Germany (news.cnet.com)
- Apple wins: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 banned in Germany (somobile.co.uk)
- Samsung fires back at Apple in Australia, report says (news.cnet.com)
- German court bans Galaxy Tab 10.1: looks too much like iPad (arstechnica.com)
- Samsung-Apple patent lawsuit tally hits 21, and counting (go.theregister.com)
- Germany: You’re Banned Forever Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (techland.time.com)
- Samsung loses appeal against Galaxy Tab ban (telegraph.co.uk)
- Apple gets permanent injunction on Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Germany (digitaltrends.com)
- Pakistan seeks to block Facebook again over “Draw Mohammad Day” group (thenextweb.com)
- Egypt Bans Picking & Export of Palm Leaves Needed to Celebrate Jewish Holiday of Sukkot (americandefenseleague.wordpress.com)
