Malaysian startup develops a 'Halal' web browser

A Malaysian startup is meeting the demand for a new browser in compliance with Islamic values and privacy concerns.

SalamWeb is a mobile and desktop browser designed to deliver a friendly web experience for Muslims. The app includes messaging, news and other features.

According to Hasni Zarina Mohamed Khan, the managing director at Salam Web, the app is mainly being used in Malaysia and Indonesia.



“We want to make the internet a better place,” Hasni Zarina said. “We know the internet has the good and the bad, so SalamWeb offers you a tool to create this window that lets you go to the internet to see the good,” said Hasni Zarina as quoted by Bloomberg.

The goal is to eventually capture 10 per cent of the 1.8 billion global Muslim population. Khan has pointed out challenges she faces as other leading technology companies such as Google and Facebook are under scrutiny for spreading fake news and releasing information.



“We’re promoting universal values — although SalamWeb is targeted to Muslims, it can be used by anyone,” Hasni Zarina said. “The internet can be a harmful place. It’s obvious that we need an alternative.”

SalamWeb heavily relies on community-vetted content that is marked appropriate with warning signals appearing to users when they land on websites containing gambling and pornographic content. There are also specific functions available on the website such as the Qibla direction and prayer timings.

This article originally appeared on Bloomberg.