Egyptians Find New Ways To Get Online 202
angry tapir writes "Groups like We Rebuild have scrambled to keep Egypt connected to the outside world, turning to landline telephones, fax machines and even ham radio to keep information flowing in and out of the country. Although one Internet service provider — Noor Group — remains in operation, Egypt's government abruptly ordered the rest of the country's ISPs to shut down their services just after midnight local time Thursday. Mobile networks have also been turned off in some areas."
Knee-Jerk Reaction (Score:5, Insightful)
A regime that tries to shut down all means for its population to communicate is one that does not deserve to continue.
It would... (Score:5, Insightful)
Be nice if the united states supported the egyptian people.
Seems we're not really all that big on the whole 'freedom' thing after all... We're still hoping our bff stays in charge of egypt.
If egypt does get their freedom... I hope they remember we sold the egyptian goverment the weapons being used on civilians right now.
Sometimes the usa deserves the hate it gets. Ok.. most times... the us goverment anyway.
Re:Knee-Jerk Reaction (Score:5, Insightful)
In that case, our government seems to be sending a mixed message by adding the internet kill-switch back into proposed legislation...
Re:Knee-Jerk Reaction (Score:5, Insightful)
In that case, our government seems to be sending a mixed message by adding the internet kill-switch back into proposed legislation...
Sensationalist headlines aside, care to point out where the aforementioned bill says anything about shutting down communications? From my reading its about isolating the networks on which high value infrastructure is located, not shutting down anyone's communication. More reading, less rhetoric please.
Re:Knee-Jerk Reaction (Score:3, Insightful)
Emergency powers always sound reasonable, even prudent, when the laws enabling them are written prior to an actual emergency. What really matters is who's in power when the Reichstag goes up in flames.
Re:Knee-Jerk Reaction (Score:5, Insightful)
What really matters is who's in power when the Reichstag goes up in flames.
Or a plane hits a building.
Re:It would... (Score:5, Insightful)
For there to be a democratic outcome in Egypt, it will have to be implemented by the people of Egyptian people, democratically.
Should the US government intervene on behalf of a political faction in Egypt, it would raise questions about the legitimacy of that faction -- even if the US government intervened with the best of intentions. The world in general, and the Middle East in particular, has far too much experience with foreign countries intervening in internal struggles for their own interests, and the US has been the most notorious for doing so in the region since the end of World War II, so suspicions of US government intervention would not be unfounded.
That's not to say that expressions of popular support by the US people for the Egyptian people is out of line.