Despite these constitutional provisions, authorities exercise sweeping control over all local media and make public criticism of government officials and policies off-limits. Police informer networks are extensive and sophisticated. E-mail access to information is unimpeded, although it may be subject to monitoring. Bahraini authorities did not respond to Human Rights Watch's letter and follow-up inquiries requesting information on Internet policies. Internet service is a monopoly of the public telecommunications company Batelco.
Prices are moderate but can add up since there is no option for unlimited service at a fixed price.
There are conflicting reports on the extent to which authorities block politically sensitive web sites. Unlike the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain does not appear to have implemented an ambitious system to block pornography. It has preferred to encourage users concerned about sexually explicit materials to install filtering software. Authorities are less concerned with blocking web sites than with closing down the sources of critical information leaking out of the country, according to the professor cited above. A small number of Bahrainis have reportedly been detained or questioned on suspicion of using electronic means to transmit information to political opposition groups outside the country.