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Pakistan Blocking Facebook and YouTube Over Blasphemous Material

By Howard M. Friedman

In Pakistan yesterday, the Lahore High Court ordered the Ministry of Information Technology and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to block all access to Facebook's website pending another court hearing on May 31. Pakistan's Express Tribune reported that the order stems from concern over a Facebook page that hosts publicity for the May 20th "Everybody Draw Muhammad" Day. (See prior posting.) PTA attempted to block access to the specific Facebook page two days ago, but apparently it was still accessible at the court hearing. PTI has now ordered access to the entire site blocked, and has set up a toll free number and website to report if objectionable material is still available. (Dawn). Meanwhile Bloomberg reports that PTI is broadening its crackdown, and has now also blocked access to YouTube and 450 other websites carrying blasphemous material. Pakistan Internet traffic has dropped 25% since Facebook and YouTube were blocked.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on May 21, 2010 (boomark / email).