Internet Censorship Preserves Cultural Values ​​in UAE It is undeniable that the Internet has played a vital role in shaping communities and transforming worldviews. It has been a tool for communication between languages ​​and cultures, bridging gaps between races, and an avenue for sharing knowledge and experiences. Interestingly, this is precisely why Internet usage has been controlled and under strict government supervision in many countries such as China, North Korea, and even the United Arab Emirates. Reasons for implementing such a restriction include issues related to national security and the preservation of cultural values. Of the two, perhaps the more questionable reason this essay aims to discuss is the question: Does Internet censorship really preserve cultural values ​​in the UAE? Internet censorship in the United Arab Emirates was formally implemented in November 2012, which caused much public dissent and uproar. The law was passed during the period in which the country recorded the highest rate of Internet use and a population penetration of 70.9% compared to 51.2% in 2007 (Ning Shen & Shakir 2009). The government's reasons for implementing such a law are to prohibit people from ridiculing Islam, promote unwanted demonstrations in social media, and prevent the possible formation of terrorist groups online (International Business Times 14 November 2012). Since Internet censorship focuses on two areas: anti-government criticism and pornography, authorities also argue that this law is necessary since many sites are inconsistent with the nation's cultural, religious, political and moral values. Activists, on the other hand, tried to fight for freedom of expression, but were ultimately forced... middle of paper..., viewed March 25, 2014, EBSCO Host.Internet World Stats 2014. Internet World Stats, viewed 25 March 2014,Nigh Shen, K & Shakir M 2009, 'Internet use among young Arab students: preliminary results', European and Mediterranean Conference on Information Systems, 13 July, pp.1-10.Straub, D , Loch, K , Hill, C 2001, 'Information technology transfer to the Arab world: a cultural influence modeling test', Journal of Global Information Management Vol.9 Issue4. pp 141-172.VPNAccounts 2012. VPNAcccounts, viewed 25 March 2014, Warf, B 2011, 'Geographies of global Internet censorship', GeoJournal Vol. 76, pp.1-23.York, J 2011, 'This Week in the Internet Censorship: SOPA, UAE Bloggers on Hunger Strike, Chilean Sites Attacked', Electronic Frontier Foundation, November 17, viewed March 25, 2014, host EBSCO.