Al Jazeera condemns Snapchat blocking its Discover channel in Saudi Arabia

Al Jazeera Media Network expresses its dismay at Snapchat’s decision to block its Discover channel in Saudi Arabia. It is deplorable that a renowned global social media platform like Snap Inc. start censoring media content in order to submit to pressures from Saudi authorities. This action is a direct attack against the freedom of expression and will have detrimental consequences to the media industry.

Al Jazeera Media Network’s Dr Mostefa Souag, Acting Director General, said: “We find Snapchat’s action to be alarming and worrying. This sends a message that regimes and countries can silence any voice or platform they don’t agree with by exerting pressure on the owners of social media platforms and content distribution companies. This step is a clear attack on the rights of journalists and media professionals to report and cover stories freely from around the world.”

He further stated “We at Al Jazeera, object to any form of censorship and restrictions to freedom of the media and the right to access information. We call on Snap Inc. and other global media organisations to reject demands of oppressive regimes to silence journalists. We would like to remind Snap Inc. that this decision violates the US constitution, American laws, and values of democracy. By blocking Al Jazeera’s Discover Channel, our followers in Saudi Arabia are denied the ability to follow our broad range of stories and coverage.”

This comes at a time where Al Jazeera Media Network and other media institutions are under attack in the Middle East and face calls for their shut down by some Arab countries.

Al Jazeera launched its Arabic Channel on Snapchat ‘Discover’ in May 2017 and continued to provide a wide variety of stories to its audiences in the MENA region with growing number of followers. 

-END-