Pakistan and Youtube.

February 24, 2008 — 4internationals

Hello all.

 Just heard that Pakistan have now banned Youtube after it displayed the “blasphemous Danish cartoons.” Are we surprised?

Is the internet just becomming another thing to ban, as opposed to improving freedom?

LC

Posted in Uncategorized. 3 Comments »

3 Responses to “Pakistan and Youtube.”

  1. 4internationals Says:
    February 27, 2008 at 5:07 pm

    Its not surprising, it is also important to note that the danish cartoon row was spread over the internet.
    So, people in the muslim world were able to view the images, or at least, peoples reactions to the images and they were then able to attempt to censor the images.
    A good example of this would be the Sudan protests today. Danemark and Sudan have little connections with each other before the incident, now, after the danish cartoons have been published and news of them has been broadcast around the world, people can see the images, but then at the same time, attempt to censor the images and try to limit their own preconceptions. The Sudanese President has called for there to be no danish citizens in Sudan.
    So therefore, this is an example of digital technology both helping and hindering press freedoms, in that details of the images are more widely broadcast and yet, people want to censor the images, either through fear of prosecution by the authorities or through fear of being attacked or harassed in some manner.

  2. 4internationals Says:
    March 16, 2008 at 9:10 pm

    I think as any new medium the internet will have to prove its mettle against state censorship. Countries such as China and the United Arab Emirates are pointing us in the direction of what may be in store. The idea of web 2.0 where everyone is identifiable could severly undermine the usefulness of the internet for journalist and political activists. In its current from it is gloriously difficult to police. Personally I think we should do whatever we can to keep it that way.

  3. 4internationals Says:
    March 16, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    I think as any new medium the internet will have to prove its mettle against state censorship. Countries such as China and the United Arab Emirates are pointing us in the direction of what may be in store. The idea of web 2.0 where everyone is identifiable could severly undermine the usefulness of the internet for journalist and political activists. In its current from it is gloriously difficult to police. Personally I think we should do whatever we can to keep it that way.

    EG


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