[6][7] In 2016, Ali bin Mohammed Al Rumaihi was appointed Minister of Information Affairs.

According to the report issued in November 2011 by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry: Having reviewed a selection of material from national television, radio and print media relating to the events of February/March 2011, the Commission notes that much of this material contained derogatory language and inflammatory coverage of events, and some may have been defamatory.

The Commission also identified numerous examples of defamation, harassment and, in some cases, incitement through social media websites.

There is also sufficient evidence to suggest that the [Government of Bahrain] exercised censorship over local media outlets.

This can have a destabilising effect because social media outlets are both untraceable and unaccountable, even in extreme cases where they promulgate hate speech and incitement to violence.