Last time I was in Dubai I tried to visit Chemistry.com and got a Website Blocked notice (similar to the above image) by the internet provider’s government-backed filter system. However, match.com worked fine even though both are owned by the same company. I find it hard to understand why a mainstream dating site would be blocked but I guess once a government goes down the path of total internet censorship the bureaucracy becomes self-perpetuating.
I’ve also read that Facebook is blocked, but it worked fine for me when I last visited on my way between Australia and Europe.
1800-YENTA
I’ve been following the founder’s blog of Plentyoffish (a traditional-style free dating service that has become a gorilla on a shoe-string budget) and reading with interest about a raft of legislation in the USA on dating services. I think law-makers need to understand that online dating is mainstream and a very popular method for people to meet one and other.
I 100% support the protection of minors from predators, but law abiding adults should not have to go through background checks before communicating with each other. If the rules are that tough then we might as well go back to arranged marriages and start dialing 1800-YENTA.
Tags: chemistry.com, dubai, facebook, match.com, plentyoffish, uae
