Beliefs, Attitudes and Uses Underpinning Freedom of Expression and Privacy Online:
A Comparative Perspective
William DuttonOxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford
Global Values Project: http://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/research/projects/?id=65
Presentation for Freedom of Expression on the Internet, UNESCO, with the Moroccan Internet Society, Marrakesh, Morocco, 16 February 2013
Focus: Global User Perspectives on Freedom of Expression
Researchers: William Dutton, Principal Investigator; Soumitra Dutta, Co-Principal Investigator; Ginette Law, Research Associate,
Gillian Bolsover, Research Assistant, Isabella Litke, Research Assistant
Based at the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, in collaboration with the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of
Management, Cornell University.
Surveys conducted in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF) and comScore with support from ictQatar
Administrative support through ISIS Innovation, University of Oxford
Online field research conducted by Toluna and comScore
The Global Values Project
1. New online nations are dominant in the New World;
2. Users developing a global Internet culture: sharing similar values and attitudes;
3. Newly adopting countries are as liberal, if not more so, such as in support for freedom of expression;
4. Users in the newly adopting nations are more innovative in some patterns of use, e.g., social networking.
The Global Values Project: The New Internet World
Research Questions
• Where does MENA sit in the ‘New Internet World’?
• Are there patterns of beliefs, attitudes or use constraining freedom of expression or privacy online in the MENA region?
Methodology
• Online survey of Internet users in selected nations of the Middle East and North Africa conducted in two phases, from July through September 2012, fielded by Toluna.*
• Merged with online survey of Internet users in selected nations world-wide from July through September 2012, fielded by comScore.
• Contextualized by review of related research and literature, including other survey data available to the project investigators.
*The survey was suspended during Ramadan.
(N) = 2,309 (N) = 9,166
The Survey Sample
Composition:
• 11,225 respondents in over 58 countriesMENA
REGIONAFRICA LATIN
AMERICAASIA EUROPE OCEANIA /
AUSNORTH
AMERICATOTAL
(N) 2,803 595 1,825 2,156 2,025 509 1,312 11,225
MENA REGION GCC NORTH AFRICA
Algeria 229 Bahrain 11 Algeria 229
Bahrain 11 Kuwait 197 Egypt 529
Egypt 529 Oman 141 Morocco 270
Iran 3 Qatar 156 Tunisia 108
Iraq 1 Saudi Arabia 511
Israel 10 UAE 245
Jordan 243
Kuwait 197
Morocco 270
Oman 141
Qatar 156Saudi Arabia 511
Tunisia 108
UAE 245
Yemen 149
TOTAL 2803 1261 1136
Languages Used by Respondents
46%
21%
11%
5%
3%
3%
3%
3%3% 3%
English Arabic LatAm Span. Chinese French German Japanese Spanish Italian Korean
Number and Proportion of Internet Users by Region
Source: Internet World Stats- www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm. Penetration rates are based on a world population of 6,930,055,154 and 2,267,233,742 estimated Internet users for December 31, 2011.
North America Oceania/Australia Europe Latin America/
Carib.
Middle East Asia Africa0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
12%
1%
22%
10%
3%
45%
6%
273
24
501
236
77
1017
139
79%
68%
61%
40%
36%
26%
14%
Percentage of global Internet population Number of Internet Users (mio.)Internet penetration within region
% o
f Int
erne
t use
rs
Tota
l num
ber o
f Int
erne
t use
rs (
Mil.
)
Number and Proportion of Internet Users in MENA Region
Source: Internet World Stats- www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm. Penetration rates are based on a regional population of 349,469,811 and 112,623,669 estimated Internet users for December 31, 2011.
Israe
lUAE
Qatar
Oman
Bahrai
n
Morocco Ira
n
Saudi A
rabia
Kuwait
Tunisia
Jordan
Egyp
t
Algeria
Yemen Ira
q0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
5%4%
1% 2% 1%
15%
36%
11%
1%4%
2%
21%
5%3% 1%
5,263
3,555
564 1,741 694
15,656
36,500
11,400
1,100
3,857
1,987
21,692
4,700
2,6101,304
70% 69%67%
58% 57%
49%47%
44%42%
36%
31%
26%
13%11%
4%
Percentage of MENA Internet population Number of Internet Users (thou.) Internet penetration within country (%)
% o
f Int
erne
t urs
ers
Tota
l num
bers
of I
nter
net u
sers
(tho
u.)
Number and Proportion of Internet Users: North Africa
Source: Internet World Stats- www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm. Penetration rates are based on a regional population of 164,097,529 and 45,904,952 estimated Internet users for December 31, 2011.
Morocco Tunisia Egypt Algeria0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
34%
8%
47%
10%
15,656
3,857
21,692
4,700
49%
36%
26%
13%
Percentage of North African Internet population Number of Internet Users (thou.) Internet penetration within country (%)
% o
f Int
erne
t use
rs
Tota
l num
ber o
f Int
erne
t use
rs (
thou
.)
Patterns of Use
Image courtesy of jannoon028/FreeDigitalPhotos.netImage courtesy of uak_rock8/Flickr.com
• MENA users rely more on the Internet for information & communication than users in North America/Europe. • The Internet is a greater source of entertainment, such as
music, in the MENA region.• MENA users more involved in content production than old
Internet countries.• However, less reliance on the Internet for work/school and
business and commerce in MENA.
1 Totally disagree
2 3 4 5 6 Totally agree 70%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
8%
3% 4%
9%
12%
15%
49%
10%
4% 5%
9%11%
13%
49%
7%
3% 4%
10%12%
17%
48%
5%3% 4%
11%
16%
21%
39%
"The Internet is making things better for people like me."
MENA (n=2727)North Africa (n=1102)GCC ( (n=1227)World Average (n=10811)
Online Content Production
Images courtesy of digitalart and graur razvan ionut/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
“How often do you use the Internet for the following purposes?” (mean)
Update or create a profile on a social networking site
Post pictures or photos
Post messages on discussion forums or message boards
Post a message on a social media platform
Use a distribution list for sending an e-mail
Write a (Web)blog
1 2 3 4 5
3.28
3.37
3.17
3.71
3.2
2.48
MENAAfricaLatin America & CaribbeanAsiaEuropeOceania/AusNorth America
1= Never 2= Less than monthly 3= Monthly 4= Weekly 5= Daily
“How often do you use the Internet for the following purposes?” (mean)
Maintain a personal website
Post a podcast
Post a video
Sign an online petition
Express an opinion about politics online
1 2 3 4 5
2.69
2.12
2.35
2.1
2.84
MENAAfricaLatin America & CaribbeanAsiaEuropeOceania/AusNorth America
1= Never 2= Less than monthly 3= Monthly 4= Weekly 5= Daily
Global Values: Freedom of Expression, Privacy, Trust, …
Image scourtesy of maya picture and digitalart/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Perceptions of Media Freedom in the MENA Region
Radio Print TV Internet
MENA (n=2803) 0.45 0.49 0.47 0.7
Global Average (n=11225) 0.66 0.65 0.65 0.82
5%
15%
25%
35%
45%
55%
65%
75%
85%
% o
f res
pond
ents
who
bel
ieve
that
the
med
ia h
as fr
eedo
m
Radio Print TV Internet
North Africa (n=1136) 0.47 0.54 0.47 0.78
GCC (n=1261) 0.44 0.46 0.47 0.63
5%
15%
25%
35%
45%
55%
65%
75%
85%
Perceptions of Media Freedom in North Africa and the GCC Region
% o
f res
pond
ents
who
bel
ieve
that
the
med
i a h
as fr
eedo
m
1 Totally disagree
2 3 4 5 6 Totally agree 70%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
5% 5%
9% 10% 10%
59%
3% 2%
12%
18%
46%
3%
10%12% 12%
54%
4% 5%
11%14% 13%
47%
"Access to the Internet should be a fundamental right for all people."
MENA (n=2694)North Africa (n=1092)GCC ( (n=1203)World Average (n=10794)
1 Totally disagree
2 3 4 5 6 Totally agree 70%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
7% 6%
12%
15% 14%
42%
6% 5%
11%
14%
11%
48%
9%7%
15% 16% 16%
33%
4% 3% 5%
13%
19%
41%
"People should be able to say what they feel about their government on the Internet."
MENA (n=2639)North Africa (n=1078)GCC ( (n=1163)World Average (n=10754)
1 Totally disagree
2 3 4 5 6 Totally agree 70%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
6%5%
8%
16%
18%17%
31%
7%6%
8%
19% 19%18%
23%
4% 4%
7%
16%
21%22%
27%
4%
7%
13%
16% 16%
39%
"I can express myself freely online."
MENA (n=2700)North Africa (n=1097)GCC ( (n=1204)World Average (n=10831)
“I can express myself freely online” Proportions Who ‘Totally Disagree’ (MENA)
Male; 6%Female; 8%
Gender
Under 18 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
8%7%
6%5%
8%7%
0%
Age**
<6 months 6 mo-<1yr 1 yr-<2 yrs 2 yrs-<5 yrs 5-7 yrs >7 yrs
15%
9%
7%
9%
7%
5%
Experience**
1 Poor 2 3 4 5 6 7 Excellent
29%
17%
7%10%
7%4%
6%
Skills**
0-5 hrs/week 6-10 hrs/week
11-15 hrs/week
16-20 hrs/week
>20 hrs/week
11%
8%
6% 5% 5%
Time of use**
Did not atten
d high sc
hool
High sc
hool
High sc
hool grad
uate
Post-sec
ondy sch
ool
Post-sec
ondy deg
ree
Graduate
school
Graduate
school d
egree
14%
8% 9%
5% 5%7% 6%
Education**
1 Totally disagree 2 3 4 5 6 Totally agree 70%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
11%
5%
7%
13% 13%
37%
10%
5%6%
11%
14%
11%
42%
11%
6%
8%
14%15%
32%
10%
6%
8%
16%17% 17%
27%
"I feel free to say things online that others might not agree with."
MENA (n=2682)
North Africa (n=1093)
GCC ( (n=1194)
World Average (n=10735)
1 Totally disagree
2 3 4 5 6 Totally agree 7 Don't know0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
10%
7%8%
18%
12%
22%
5%
11%
8%
11%
18%17%
6%
8%7%
10%
20%21%
15% 15%
4%
9%
19%20%
“The Internet is a safe place to express my opinions."
MENA (n=2803)North Africa (n=1136)GCC ( (n=1261)World Average (n=11225)
1 Totally disagree
2 3 4 5 6 Totally agree 70%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
13%
6%
8%
13%
16%
13%
30%
15%
7%
9%
12%
14%
12%
31%
12%
7%8%
15%
13%
28%
10%
6%7%
16%
18%17%
27%
"There are times when people should be able to be anonymous on the Internet."
MENA (n=2665)North Africa (n=1064)GCC (n=1185)World Average (n=10701)
1 Totally disagree
2 3 4 5 6 Totally agree 7 Don't Know0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
16%
12%
10%
28%
7%
18%
6%7%
13%
11%
9%
21%
14%
8%
15%14%
11%
24%
9%
11%
5%
7%
16%15%
14%
27%
6%
"Government authorities should not censor political content on the Internet."
MENA (n=2803)North Africa (n=1136)GCC ( (n=1261)World Average (n=11225)
1 Totally disagree
2 3 4 5 6 Totally agree 70%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
18%
9%
16%15%
24%
17%
8%
10%
13%14%
11%
27%
20%
9%8%
18%
16%
12%
18%
10%
7%
9%
17%18% 18%
23%
“It is OK for people to express their ideas on the Internet, even if they are extreme.”
MENA (n=2652)North Africa (n=1079)GCC ( (n=1180)World Average (n=10761)
Privacy and Data Protection
Imagess courtesy of Salvatore Vuono and adamr/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
• Users are divided over the conditions under which governments should have any role in monitoring online behavior. • Users express guarded support for monitoring use, but not tracking their own online activity.• Users exhibit uncertainty over who is collecting what personal information about them online.• Many users are worried about putting personal information online.
1 Totally disagree
2 3 4 5 6 Totally agree 70%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
18%17%
14%
11%
20%
8% 8%
12%
9%
26%
15%
7%
15%
12%
8%9%
19%
17%
13%
19%
"Government authorities should monitor content posted on the Internet."
MENA (n=2649)North Africa (n=1084)GCC ( (n=1176)World Average (n=10763)
1 Totally disagree
2 3 4 5 6 Totally agree 7 Don't Know0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
38%
7%
11%
6%
39%
10%
6%
12%
10%
5%
12%
6%
34%
13%
11%
35%
11%
8%
14%
11%
7%
9%
4%
"Government authorities should track my online ac-tivity."
MENA (n=2803)North Africa (n=1136)GCC ( (n=1261)World Average (n=11225)Series6
1 Totally disagree
2 3 4 5 6 Totally agree 7 Don't Know0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
16%
6% 6%
10%
12%
10%
25%
15%
22%
7%
5%
10%9%
22%
12%
6% 6%
11%
14%
11%
26%
14%14%
7%8%
14%13%
19%
12%
"The government monitors what people do on the Internet."
MENA (n=2803)
North Africa (n=1136)
GCC ( (n=1261)
World Average (n=11225)
1 Totally disagree
2 3 4 5 6 Totally agree 70%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
32%
6%
13%
7%
23%
33%
8%
12%11%
6%
24%
29%
9%
7%
13%12%
8%
22%
10%
8%
15%
10%
17%
"Government authorities should know with whom I communicate online."
MENA (n=2659)North Africa (n=1079)GCC ( (n=1185)World Average (n=10815)
The MENA Region Reflects the New Internet World
- Innovative Uses of the Internet and Social Media
- Support for the Internet for Information, Entertainment, Expression, …
- Support for Core Internet Values: Freedom of Expression, Privacy, …
- But More Sensitive Areas of Expression
Concerns over Privacy, Trust, Security, …
Spectrum of Regional Opinions between Two Poles:
Traditional versus Next Generation Users
(education, age, and experience online)
Differences with MENA Region
Over-Arching Themes
Image courtesy of uak_rock8/Flickr.com
Interventions in Support of More Inclusive Access:
- Take-up
- Skills
- Digital Literacy
Encourage Greater Use in Business, Government and Commerce
Foster Dialogue Across the Spectrum of Opinions
Address Uncertainties and Anxieties
Implications for Discussion