Halal Internet? Islamic Browser Promises
Better Web Experience
SalamWeb targets 10 percent of global
Muslim population
Mobile browser lets users filter out
inappropriate content
SalamWeb mobile browser Photographer:
Justin Chin/Bloomberg
A Malaysian startup is betting that there’s
plenty of pent-up demand for a new browser that’s compliant with Islamic
values, at a time of mounting concerns over privacy, bias and online abuse over
the internet.
SalamWeb, a mobile and desktop browser, is
designed to deliver a Muslim-friendly web experience. The app, which includes
messaging, news and other features, has users from mainly Malaysia and
Indonesia, according to Hasni Zarina Mohamed Khan, managing director at Salam
Web Technologies MY Sdn.
Her goal is to eventually capture 10
percent of the 1.8 billion global Muslim population. She pointed to some of
challenges facing the web, as the world’s largest technology companies from
Google to Facebook Inc. face criticism for doing too little to address harmful
content and false information. Human rights group Amnesty International looked
at abusive interactions and concluded that Twitter is a “toxic place for
women.”
“We want to make the internet a better
place,” Hasni Zarina said. “We know the internet has the good and the bad, so
SalamWeb offers you a tool to create this window that lets you go to the
internet to see the good.”
Read more about the concerns surrounding
the influence of Big Tech.
SalamWeb relies on community-vetted content
filters that mark web pages as appropriate, neutral or inappropriate, while
warning users when they approach sites with gambling or pornography. It also
has Muslim-specific functions, such as prayer times and an indicator for Qibla,
or the direction that a Muslim must face when praying.
The products are certified compliant by the
independent Amanie Shariah Supervisory Board, and is built on the open-source
Chromium software that’s the basis of Google Chrome web browser. Shariah law
prohibits activities considered unethical, such as gambling, prostitution and
alcohol- and pork-related businesses, as well as interest-based financial
products.
“We’re promoting universal values ?
although SalamWeb is targeted to Muslims, it can be used by anyone,” Hasni
Zarina said. “The internet can be a harmful place. It’s obvious that we need an
alternative.”
Link-> https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-28/halal-internet-islamic-browser-promises-better-web-experience
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