Kuwait passes law tightening online media controls

Amnesty International deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, James Lynch, speaks during a press conference at the Kuwait Human Rights association in Kuwait City on December 16, 2015. Amnesty International urged Kuwait to release all political prisoners immediately and warned that the oil-rich Gulf state was at risk of sliding deeper into repression. AFP PHOTO / YASSER AL-ZAYYAT

KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s parliament on Jan 13 passed legislation to regulate all web-based “professional” media, a day after a controversial cybercrimes law came into effect. 

All forms of electronic media like Internet-based news services, bulletins, publications, newspaper and television station portals and commercial services are subject to the new law.