Pakistan cuts off all access to YouTube
Summary: YouTube is no longer available in Pakistan due to a government-imposed blockade.
Pakistan has now blocked YouTube entirely from the country, after the video sharing site declined to remove the "Innocence of Muslims" trailer that sparked protests throughout the world.
Attempting to browse to the site results in users within Pakistan being redirected to a page that states "this page is blocked due to restrictions enforced by the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA)," even if the video is not related to the offending trailer.
The PTA has stated that it was ordered by the Chief Justice of Pakistan to block all anti-Islamic videos. It had previously been provided with a list of 753 anti-Islamic sites, which has now grown to 934 sites.
Google's Transparency Report shows that, at about 7 a.m. AEST (2 p.m. PT), YouTube traffic from Pakistan dropped off dramatically, and states that the site is inaccessible from the country.
Google has not put in place a country-wide block, and has told ZDNet that there are no issues with its network that would prevent Pakistan users from visiting the site.
YouTube has previously stated that the video is "clearly within our guidelines and so will stay on YouTube," but the Australian Department of Broadband and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) disagrees with the video remaining online, stating that the video is "clearly offensive" and is calling on Google to "review its terms of service to see if they are being appropriately applied in this case."
"Australia has strong anti-vilification laws. If people believe this video is in breach of these laws, they can make a complaint to Google or the Human Rights Commission," the department said in a statement.
"What people shouldn't do is engage in violent protests on the streets. It is totally unacceptable behaviour and should be condemned."
DBCDE did not respond to queries as to whether it had actually made a request of its own to have the video removed.
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This whole narrative is false
Al Qaeda has admitted that the attacks were not about the video at all, but in revenge for the drone killing of one of their top brass.
The attacks were planned days in advance. Hillary was warned but decided not to warn Benghazi, and also did not allow their security to have actual bullets.
See Conn Caroll's article in the Washington Examiner. Or google this:
"no one outside the White House believes a single video caused the violence. Liberal commentator and Tufts University international politics professor Dan Drezner has called Obama’s decision to blame the YouTube clip a “radically incomplete and dishonest answer.”
Libya President Mohamed Yousef El-Magariaf directly contradicted Rice on CBS’s , Face the Nation, telling Bob Schieffer, “It was planned, definitely. It was planned by foreigners, by people who entered the country a few months ago. And they were planning this criminal act since their arrival."
Re:
Australian govt joining the censorship
Nope
If someone would post such things to youtube, instead just making books and photos of the data, USA would be there to bomb any company and its chiefs what does not comply.
You just don't understand the concept of free speach
The fact is that if you want to find Anti-United States videos on YouTube, it's very, very easy to do so. Or, try doing a Google search on "I hate America" and see how many thousands of hits you get. And I doubt any of those people are getting bombed (at least not for posting a video - if they are also planning violent action then all bets are off however).
The fact of the matter is that sitting here with my smart phone, I could grab a few people off the street and pay them $10 each to read a stupid script while I create a digital video of them. About 15 seconds later I can have that video on YouTube. And I can say anything I want. In fact anyone, anywhere can say anything they want on the Internet unless they are unfortunate enough to live in dictatorships that ban free speech.
But you better carefully consider though before demanding that a governmental ban certain speech. Because if they have the authority to ban speech you don't approve of, then they also have the authority to ban the speech you do approve of. What goes around comes around as they say.
Finally, it would not surprise me one bit to see anti-American groups out there making their own anti-Muslim videos, blog postings, etc. Why would they? Because as we have seen, there are a lot of very foolish people who will go out and burn down embassies and kill people over it. One guy with a cell phone can provoke a world wide reaction.
HAHAHA
Good question.
Poor marketing plan
Giving Religion A Bad Name
Yes, free speech really is that sacred, that we will not give it up just to assuage some hurt feelings. Freedom paid for with blood will not be lightly given away. The more violently you respond to that, the more you confirm all the worst prejudices against you.
Remember, religion is a lousy basis for defining your morality.
Religion a lousy basis?
Down the Rabbit hole
Down the rabbit hole
This is ridiculous
I love the title of that video. It's so beautifully ironic. Poke them a little and the members of the "religion of peace" immediately show how innocent they really are by murdering people and burning down embassies.
There is no excuse for this bullshit and it really just shows how dangerous religion can be. We need to get rid of this medieval superstitious nonsense if society is supposed to evolve beyond what it is right now.
it should block. no doubt about it...
I was shocked to read "clearly within our guidelines and so will stay on YouTube," crap from that organisation. blocking the domain is perfectly fine, if they are not willing to remove it...
Blocked? Seriously?
As was said earlier here: if you don't like it, don't watch it. I would add, don't be the judge for all others.
"Disgusting" ⇒"Immoral"
Or and alternative would be...
Just remember...
When?