Undercurrents: Cybercrime in the GCC States, and Fiction from Refugee Camps

Agnes examines why the vast wealth of Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait makes them especially vulnerable to cybercrime, and Ben discusses a groundbreaking project to teach creative writing in the Shatila refugee camp in Lebanon.

Audio

Published 6 September 2018

Updated 5 October 2020 — 52 minute listen

Ben Horton

Former Head, Director’s Office

Agnes Frimston

Deputy Editor, The World Today

Cybercrime is on the rise throughout the world, but the vast wealth of the GCC states (Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait) makes them especially vulnerable. In response increasingly stringent laws governing online activity have been enacted, but do these measures encroach too much on the rights of individuals? Agnes speaks to Joyce Hakmeh to find out.

Much is written about the experiences of refugees, but rarely do we hear from them directly. Shatila Stories, a new novel from Peirene Press, is the result of a groundbreaking project to teach creative writing in the Shatila refugee camp in Lebanon. Ben finds out more in conversation with Meike Ziervogel and Suhir Helal.

Read the research paper. 

More about the book: Shatila Stories

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