Yahoo! clubs can be freely created by users, allowing them to create web sites and chat rooms.
In Saudi Arabia, internet services are supervised by the King Abdul-Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). Proxies are in place that limit the access to sites. The head of the KACST information security centre is reported as having told Reuters: “Many [Yahoo!] clubs have pornographic content. It was easier to block the whole club service.”
Last year the Muslim state blocked some AOL services which allowed users to download software to access pornographic and other sites considered offensive.
In Australia, a ban on new licenses for internet based gambling operations is expected to be passed by Parliament this week following public statements of approval today from both the ruling Coalition government and the Democrats. The ban will operate for one year pending an investigation into the feasibility and consequences of a permanent ban.
The proposed ban is the result of concerns that legal gambling is causing social problems in the country.
