OFWs bound for KSA advised to ‘clean’ electronic devices

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino workers bound for Saudi Arabia have been advised to make sure that no items in the electronic gadgets they are carrying are in violation of the host government’s beliefs and practices. Migrante-Middle East said airports in Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah are strictly re-implementing procedures in receiving migrant workers carrying electronic devices. Upon arrival at the airport, the migrant group said all electronic devices are to be submitted for checkup at the immigration section. These devices include cellular phones with camera and memory card, flash disks, external hard drives, laptops, notebook computers, iPods, and MP3 players with memory cards. Migrante said Saudi immigration authorities use a special device to scan all the contents of the devices and record them to the main scanning computer. Devices found to contain pornographic items or pirated software are confiscated immediately. No fine would be charged for the violation but refusal to surrender the device would lead to arrest or deportation, said the group. Despite Saudi Arabia’s stringent monitoring at its airports, pirated movies abound in the market. Movies have long been forbidden in the kingdom, and even gatherings where men and women mix are strictly banned. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV