Group protests Sudan Telecom's YouTube blocking

IDG News Service — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:45:20 -0700

Three weeks after the Sudanese National Telecommunication Corporation blocked the YouTube video-sharing site, Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Robert Menard has written a letter protesting the action.

The telecom blocked the site on July 22, a move that prompted Menard to express concern over free expression online in Sudan. Anyone using the national telecom for connectivity can not access the site.

Menard invited the telecom company to explain why YouTube is blocked, arguing that if there are any "shocking" videos on the site, the corporation can ask YouTube to withdraw them.

"Unlike the clients of other Sudanese ISPs (Internet service providers) such as Canar Telecom, your clients have not been able to access the video-sharing website YouTube since July 22nd. Reporters Without Borders, an organization that defends press freedom worldwide, would like draw your attention to this situation, which violates your clients' freedom of expression," Menard said in the letter.

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Group protests Sudan Telecom's YouTube blocking