Afghanistan Follows Pakistan In Demanding ISPs Censor The Internet
from the not-so-inter dept
Last week we noted that Pakistan had chosen to start censoring a bunch of big websites, including Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and Amazon. And now the EFF notes that Afghanistan has created new rules for the internet, saying that ISPs need to start filtering websites that fall under the following categories:- Alcohol
- Dating/Social Networking
- Gambling
- Pornography
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: afghanistan, blocks, censorship
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Drugs ?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
Because, if this is successful, people like the religious right will try to use this as precedent to stop speech they don't like (e.g. information on abortion or evolution)?
Because it's a good thing to know about what is happening elsewhere in the world, even if it doesn't affect you directly?
Because restriction on rights in other countries are still "newsworthy" even if you show no personal interest in them?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
The headline "Pakistani Government Hacks Apart Bloggers With Machetes" isn't news; it's Tuesday.
There is no point in showing any surprise when governments known for suppressing freedom actually suppress freedom.
However, it is is good starting point for discussion on the state of other nations, which is a perfectly acceptable reason to have these articles.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
Maybe because our governments are spending a lot of money (and lives) in military adventures in those countries - and therefore ought to have some leverage.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
They are censoring Internet for ISAF too
This has the knock on effect of censoring locally sourced VSAT access being provided to members of the Military serving there. The work around for those affected is to order services direct from the actual service providers and not from Afghan Resellers.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
soldiers cant hand out dvdrs now
OH i can see a rebellion....OH WAIT
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Freedom of expression and sarcasm
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Umm....
[ link to this | view in thread ]
So?
If no one cared or paid attention they wouldn't be doing it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Umm....
But hey, on the bright side, I hear they are a democracy now!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
I always figured you thought facist censorship was both admirable and mundane, TAM. Thanks for confirming it for the rest of us.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
We all know the real reasons for their censorship
[ link to this | view in thread ]