This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011.
Internet in Syria has been heavily censored for years. Seemingly harmless sites like Facebook, YouTube, and Wikipedia Arabic have only been accessible through proxies and various circumvention software. Syrian users even set up Facebook groups and mailing lists to share info on the latest working proxies, and they have generally succeeded in staying one step ahead of government censors.
Today, Forward Magazine broke exciting news that thousands of Syrian were waiting to hear; “Syria lifts Facebook ban.” Syrian tweeps were ecstatic with the news and raced to announce–as well as verify–their new-found freedom. Their pleas “Mr. President, tear down this wall” have finally been heard; the wealth of information, networking opportunities, and funny cat videos provided by the previously blocked sites is now one step easier to reach.
Image by Flickr user Azraiman
Abdulsalam Haykal, a Syrian entrepreneur and influential media figure, announced some insider info about a directive to lift the ban:
To be made public soon. #Facebook will be officially unblocked in #Syria as of today.
Basel Hamadeh confirms:
#Facebook, #youtube and #Blogspot has confirmed to be open in #Syria ISP's is processing the request right now ! :)
Adnan Homsi adds another discovery to the unblocked list:
و الويكيبيدا العربية كمان , شكلنا اخدنا وش و كترنا :P
Some users however were unable to see the changes, but tweeps were quick to ease their frustration. Wael Orabi tweeted:
@Seleucid it's a matter of time, ISP needs to update their systems. by tomorrow it's gonna be applied to everyone
Similarly, Bashar Kokash explains the process:
@MazenMS maybe not all ISPs unblocked it yet, I'm using STE connection now and it's really unblocked
Seleucid is overjoyed with the news, and he thinks lifting the ban is a largely influenced by the pro-democracy protests in Egypt:
I can't believe I'm witnessing something this beautiful :’). Thank you #Jan25, thank you. #Syria
He adds:
لك الله حيو شعب مصر! فكوا حجب سوريا!!!!
Eventually he continues to welcome an open Youtube, and asks the US government to match the move by removing the sanctions that block Syrians from accessing any and all software developed by US companies no matter how harmless it is, and he concludes by analyzing the significance of the latest developments in the country:
Open youtube changes your world… I'm not joking.
Syria has freed us of all restrictions. Now it's time for the US to follow suit.
What we're witnessing in Syria right now is the death of the old guard. Might have bigger implications than a simple unblock.
Photo by Flickr user Azrainman made available by Creative Commons 2.0 Generic (CC by 2.0) license.
This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011.
23 comments
Good to see more freedom, thats always welcome.
I seem to be alone though in seeing this and it’s timing a little more cynically. In giving the people what they mostly already had through proxies etc, there’s a big \feel good\ factor generated and this is certainly reflected on Twitter.
Of course by allowing access, it also perversely allows a greater degree of tracking and usage monitoring via local ISP’s, something that is not quite as easy via proxies. In the unlikely event of contagion from Tunisia/Egypt etc it’s another handy tool to have around!
Killing two birds with the one stone comes to mind.
I should declare though to being an ageing Irish cynic !
All great points Tommie. Most Syrians are cynics by default. It’s in the water or something. I agree with you completely. Still, having an open internet is something to celebrate, no?
Actually Facebook is now available here in Damascus without resorting to SecurityKISS
Tommie is right about bigger surveillance possibilities for ISPs/governments here in Syria, but isn’t it equally true in other countries?
Perhaps I’m even more cynical… Anyway I keep using SecurityKISS
This is the democracy that all the world are seeking for, so the Egyptians today must preserve this historic achievement.
In my point of view people are asking what come next?
first they have to get rid of those who were surrounding Husni Mubarak,only those who were loyal to him and prosecute those who used violence against unarmed citizens.
Opposition partys is part of that interim regime,they have to participate in the upcoming election.
From this historical moment everyone has to learn how to say (no) for Corruption,in any part of the world If they would like to live in freedom and dignity.
A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves. – Bertrand de Jouvenel