Censure 65

North Africa: are political websites more likely to get hacked?

Political opposition websites in North African countries, particularly in Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania, are becoming a primary target of hackers. This new phenomenon of defacing opposition and dissident websites emerged first in Tunisia, where at least 14 websites and blogs were targeted between 2007 and 2008, and seems to be spreading across the region as a result of the attempt to muzzle free […]

You, too, can defeat cruel dictators online

The extensive palace complex of Tunisia’s septuagenarian dictator, President Zine el-Abidine ben Ali, for example, is off limits to his citizens. Anyone caught taking photographs of the vast complex are likely to be arrested. But cyberspace is beyond President ben Ali’s reach. There his palace is besieged by human rights activists.

Silencing online speech in Tunisia

Blocking web 2.0 websites (Youtube, Dailymotion, Facebook) and barring access to local outspoken websites and blogs is the most obvious way of cracking down of the online free speech in Tunisia. It should be emphasized, however, that this is only one tool in the regime’s hand. Tunisia has adapted to the web 2.0 revolution by developing a broader strategy composed of a wide range of instruments […]

Google Earth bombing for a free Tunisia

You’ve heard of Google bombing. Here’s an instant classic piece of Google Earth bombing, courtesy of the Tunisian opposition to a rather nasty dictatorship. The premise: That even despots like Tunisia’s Ben Ali want check out their house in Google Earth:-) His palace is now smothered with YouTube video testimonies by political prisoners (turn on the YouTube layer if it isn’t already).

Human rights videos besiege the Tunisian Presidential palace

Tunisia blocked access to both popular video-sharing websites, Youtube and Dailymotion, in order to prevent Tunisian netizens from watching video content featuring testimonies from former political prisoners and human rights activists. However, and as shown in this example, Tunisian cyberactivists are successful enough in besieging Carthage presidential palace, on Google Earth, with tens of human rights videos.