Israel Matzav

Ben Gurion Airport behaves like everyone else

When I first saw this story on Twitter about Ben Gurion Airport's free internet access blocking certain web sites, it sounded like they were only Leftist web sites. That is not the case. Ben Gurion Airport is an equal opportunity blocker.

Netanel Davidi, CEO of the Altal information security company, said the filtering system "can trace sites with offensive content and block access to them, after users worldwide mark and categorize them. The system also blacklists hostile sites and prevents access to them."

"The general instructions to 012 is to allow free surfing to all except bandwidth-heavy sites that stream video, music and the like. This is to enable most passengers to surf uninterruptedly. Porn and gambling sites have also been blocked, as is customary," IAA said.

It added that 012 is using a technological filtering device that "categorizes controversial sites."

The IAA said it would examine the goings on and make changes if necessary.

012 refused to comment due to customer confidentiality.

"The IAA is responsible for what takes place within its boundaries and cannot shift responsibility onto some provider," said Breaking the Silence director Dana Golan.

"This is an extremely absurd and stupid policy, because whoever wants to block Internet access to people at an airport will ultimately have to consider preventing them from traveling abroad," Golan added.

Peace Now secretary general Yariv Oppenheimer said "it's regrettable that people leaving Israel should be made to feel as though they were leaving China or North Korea. Only backward countries bar Internet sites expressing political opinions."

But it's not just Peace Now and Breaking the Silence that are blocked. It's also Legal Forum for the Land of Israel and World Headquarters to Save the People and Land of Israel. Hey - there's no fundamental right to access any web site from any public place. Ask the US government, which also blocks some sites from its premises.

Labels: Ben Gurion Airport, Breaking the Silence, Peace Now, web access

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:55 AM