KUWAIT CITY, Nov 30: The Electronic Media Sector in the Ministry of Information granted 22 licenses to various electronic media outlets this November and now that Sheikh Ahmed Al-Nasser took over the ministerial portfolio in an acting capacity; the total number of granted licenses reached 421 – for government media outlets, companies and individuals, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting an informed source from the ministry.

According to the source, the ministry revoked four licenses for electronic websites within this month at the request of their owners and pursuant to Article 16 of law number 8 of 2016 on regulating electronic media. The source hinted that the reason for this unprecedented increase in the number of license applications in one month is related to the National Assembly elections, which will be held on Dec 5.

The electronic license is canceled if the licensee violates any of the regulations, the most important of which is the lease, sale or assignment of the license without the approval of the ministry, or if the license expires without a request to renew within six months of its expiration date, the source added.