Egypt: After Twitter, Facebook Now Blocked
This post is part of our special coverage of Egypt Protests 2011.
Egypt today blocked access to Facebook, as part of its clampdown on the transfer of information, following yesterday's protests. Also, yesterday, it blocked access to Twitter, jammed mobile communications in areas protesters were gathering in, and banned access to live video streaming site Bambuser.
The demonstrations, held simultaneously across different cities and towns, followed a call on Facebook for a Day of Anger in protest against unemployment, corruption and rising prices and call for economic reforms, among other grievances. News reports point that the Internet blockade was “pre-planned,” in order to “block those websites which activists use extensively to coordinate their efforts.”
Despite this, netizens were able to break the blockage, streaming thousands of tweets, images and video recordings showing thousands of people chanting anti-government slogans and calling for an end to corruption and the President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule.
The blocking of Facebook, which is estimated to have 5 million users in Egypt, drew outrage on Twitter, which netizens were able to access using proxy services, in a clear defiance of the government imposed ban.
Daila Ziada reports:
Ops! I can't access #Facebook any more! Now Twitter and Facebook are blocked! #Jan25
Lasto Adri confirms:
Facebook is now blocked in Egypt. #Jan25
Ahmad Essam laments the death of freedom of expression:
An Egyptian foresees more protests:
Wael Abbas exclaims:
RT @waelabbas Mubarak is Gaggaing Egypt! hear our screams world!!!
Gue3bara adds:
dear followers from all around the world the regime is blocking our internet please show solidarity with spreading out words #jan25
And Alaa Abd El Fattah notes:
He advices:
ok folks in Egypt start installing Tor now, your government decided Egypt is another tunisia indeed
And Ahmad Gharbeia follows suit:
Forward via SMS to your friends the short URL of the proxy service/software you use and know how to support #25jan
Walora adds:
@25Egypt ثورة تونس نجحت ليس فقط بالفيسبوك ولكن برسائل المحمول .. يجب على الجميع ارسال رسائل لكن من يعرفون .. أنشرها للجميع #Jan25 #Egypt
Wael Khalil confirms:
Mona ElTahawy asks:
and she continues:
#Facebook #Twitter r tools. #Egyptians most effective weapon vs #Mubarak is their courage. Can't block that. #Jan25 Yalla #Egypt!
Makanoo agrees:
RT @makanoo: I guess blocking facebook and twitter will result get people more angry.. #jan25 #fail
Meanwhile, Marwa Rakha sources and posts links to different proxies people can use to bypass the blockage.
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