In an annual report from Media Rights Without Borders (RSF), a host of Arab countries have been named ‘enemies of the Internet’. These countries include Saudi Arabia, Iran and Egypt.

These countries are what constitute according to the Paris based agency the “worst violators of freedom of expression on the net.” China, Burma and North Korea, the countries often targeted by human right activists have also made the cut in this list.

Bahrain and UAE fall under RSF’s ‘under surveillance’ category, running high risk of being labeled ‘enemy of the Internet’ next year if they do not tighten their security restrictions.

Saudi Arabia has been named the most repressive country in terms of Internet usage. Cyber Cafes are required to have hidden cameras, and to provide a list of customers and the visited websites to the government. Website owners face up to ten years in jail if their site offends the Gulf state’s religious and social values. Egypt has also arrested 500 bloggers since 2008.

Iran holds the top position for being “one of cyber-censorship’s record-holding countries.” After the elections in June, 2009 Iran has been holding strong censorship rules over the Internet,specially in the social media category.