Egypt and the Internet
No internet in Egypt
Egypt has been in the news today with the uprising against the government. That has been news enough, but, as a side note, it has shown us how easy the internet can be silenced in the whole country.
The move by Egyptian authorities to seal off the country almost entirely from the Internet shows how easily a state can isolate its people when telecoms providers are few and compliant.
In an attempt to stop the frenzied online spread of dissent against President Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year rule, not only Facebook and Twitter but the entire Internet was shut down overnight, leaving some 20 million users stranded.
Cut Off From The World
“Virtually all of Egypt’s Internet addresses are now unreachable, worldwide,” Jim Cowie, chief technology officer of U.S.-based Internet monitoring firm Renesys wrote on the company blog.
“Every Egyptian provider, every business, bank, Internet cafe, website, school, embassy, and government office that relied on the big four Egyptian ISPs for their Internet connectivity is now cut off from the rest of the world.”
Vodafone said in an emailed statement: “All mobile operators in Egypt have been instructed to suspend services in selected areas. Under Egyptian legislation, the authorities have the right to issue such an order and we are obliged to comply.”
Think it couldn’t happen here? Think again.
