Stop censoring the internet!
I found this great post this morning from One Hump or Two?, also known as the only Western Sahara blog accessible from within Morocco.
The article highlights the Wikipedia Western Sahara portal, which has been under dispute for awhile, mainly because pro-Polisario folks have been doing most of the posting. Regardless of my personal beliefs, which you shall never know, I’d like to see more of the other side involved for the sake of balance.
What I’d really like to see, however, is Morocco stop censoring the internet. Did you know that I can’t access Western Sahara blogs and Livejournal (apparently too many Moroccans were signing up)? I’m sure there are other sites, but those are the ones I know about. Why isn’t anyone else talking about this?
p.s. How could I forget Google Earth, which is currently blocked by the Moroccan government so that we cannot view the palaces.
May 16th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
is the whole of Google Earth blocked?
Or are only the images of the palaces blocked?
May 16th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
The whole thing, at least from my computer (I subscribe to Maroc Telecom internet, Wana and Meditel could be different, being not government-run and all). I can download the program but then can’t log in. This started last September when I tried it after returning from the States.
May 16th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
No, I can’t access it either. But not so surprising is it? I was told in Fez, after an afternoon of visiting numerous shops in search of a world map for my war table, that “we don’t sell world maps in Morocco because of the politics. You know, in Africa the borders are always changing.”
I think this is one of the things that will change. As more of the younger generation have access to computers they will find ways around it (china) if not given access.
May 16th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
They can always go for the Reporters Without Borders “Handbook for Bloggers and Cyberdissidents!”
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=15004
May 18th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
i was told that livejournal was a collateral damage of sahrawi websites censorship. i admit that don’t really bother these sites being blocked because i don’t support saharawi cause and access to google earth won’t make a difference for me. i know that it’s a stupid thing, but i just don’t care.
besides, a lot of people would support censoring when it matches their expectations. no one objected after casa bombings when Jihadi sites access was blocked.
why jihadi and sahrawi sites should be treated differently, they are both a threat for Morocco.
i don’t caution jihadi propaganda, but i seek some coherence.
May 18th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
See, whether or not I support the Saharawi cause (I intend to remain as neutral as Switzerland) I still support free speech at any cost. Same for jihadi propaganda, which I absolutely do not support - but do they have the right to say it?
The only case in which I feel that free speech should be limited (as does the US constitution) is when it comes to slander, libel, and threats of violence.
You’re right that a lot of people would support censoring to match their own agenda - this I don’t support.
May 27th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
now you probably should add YouTube.com to that long list of websites being censured in Morocco… not a good news
May 30th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
My W. Sahara blog gets a lot of hits from Morocco too, so I don’t think the ban is working all that well, if there is one. I was under the impression they’re only banning a few select sites (like www.arso.org)?
May 30th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
I suppose nowadays it’s impossible for them to censor all of them - but two years ago, I couldn’t find any, really. Sorry, you’re right - I can see yours!
May 31st, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Two years ago, I doubt there were any…
May 31st, 2007 at 2:51 pm
That’s not entirely true - I moved to Morocco two years ago and there were a bunch on Livejournal - which is possibly why it’s banned now.
June 1st, 2007 at 5:37 am
Hm, I haven’t found those, but if you say so. Let’s hope Blogspot won’t share the same fate now, then…