Syria ramps up online censorship
p2pnet news | Freedom:- As the latest move in Syria’s “iron censorship” online, local authorities have ordered Net cafe users to reveal their identity, says Reuters, quoting Mazen Darwich, head of the Syrian Media Centre.
Records are to be, “presented regularly to the authorities, who targeted bloggers and Internet writers in recent months as part of a renewed campaign against dissent,” says the story, going on:
“These steps are designed to terrorise Internet users and spread fear and self censorship in violation of the right to privacy and free expression,” Darwich said. “The government has been methodical in extending the scope of its iron censorship.”
Restrictions have also increased on surfing and online publishing, according to the story, which has Darwich saying an increasing number of Syrians who’ve voiced opinions on the Net are being jailed.
“The Syrian Media Centre, an independent body that tracks curbs on media, said at least 153 Internet sites are blocked in Syria with bans expanding over the past few weeks to Googleblog and the Arab Maktoobblog, and, “Open forums have been used by thousands of Syrians to launch a counteroffensive against the government’s curbs on public expression,” Darwich said in the story.
Facebook and YouTube are already banned as well as sites for Syrian opposition parties, Lebanese newspapers and Lebanese groups opposed to what they call Syrian interference in Lebanon, states Reuters, adding:
“A poet is facing trial at a state security course for publishing articles on a civic society forum. Another writer spent a week in prison for an Internet piece about fuel and electricity shortages, Syrian human rights organisations said. A teacher from the farming province of Reka is facing trial for criticising online what he described as patronage and nepotism in the state-run education system.”
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Also See:
Reuters – Syria expands “iron censorship” over Internet, March 13, 2008
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