Officially announced on April 2nd, 2008, Indonesian Communication and Informatics ministry requested local ISPs to block any sites publishing information regarding the movie Fitna. This will include access to popular video sharing YouTube.
Several Indonesian local ISPs has been requested to close access with any resources available resulting many local internet users not being able to access YouTube.
The movie Fitna, created by Dutch politician Geert Wilders, creates havoc among some of islamic practitioners as it is considered allegedly focusing on islamic terrorism.
Two indonesian bloggers, Thomas Arie Setiawan and Adinoto posted their objection that this political move will bring Indonesia to internet dark ages where government interfering and censoring internet traffic.
Indonesian Communication and Informatics ministry also considering to apply internet censorship for pornography.
This is a sad day for Indonesia
Kita manfaatkan saja situs lokal di http://veeon.com
Worse…
Youtube can be just the first from many.
Translation from my blog
“The blocking of Youtube is a sign which show in the future, by using a ‘hot button’ issue, our government can pretending be populist governement while keeping our people dumb. It is not about whether you are agree or not to the blocking of Youtube. It is about how easy to block facilitation of gathering, speaking out opinion,just by using the current issue.”
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I have posted my response too in my own blog
Funny thing is, what i heard from my friends that using BIGnet as their ISP, they still can see youtube through web proxy like hidemyass.com
Not all moslem are terrorist and not all YouTube content is inappropriate. How’s that?
I believe the government should learn to police this “Fitna” information in more wisely manner. I don’t mind about information censorship, particularly for Indonesia. There are still a lot more less educated people who will be easily misunderstood the situation and that where censorship should be appropriately in place.
However, it’s just like killing a rat by destroying an island.
Very stupid!