When YouTube got banned in Turkey last week, at least it was known why. However, now YouTube is blocked in Thailand (visitors are redirected to MICT, Ministry of information and communication technology (read “censorship”)), and no one is sure of the real reason. Mashable reports that it’s probably due to a CNN interview with Thailand’s ex-Prime Minister Thaksin appearing on YouTube, which didn’t go well with Thai’s current regime.
The interesting thing here, of course, is why YouTube is getting banned so often? Why not Google? I’m sure you can find lots of offensive info on any country on Google. What do governments think they’re solving by banning YouTube is beyond me. I guess it’s as close as it comes to censorship they usually do on television, so it’s the next logical step to move to YouTube.
I’m joining in on Mashable’s little contest: guess the next country to get banned by YouTube and, after it happens, I’ll make a post proclaiming the winner and linking to a website of your choice (if it’s decent, of course).
*Update: according to this source, YouTube is available for residents of Thailand again.
Pfft, my school seems to have decided to impose a ban on YouTube and there doesn’t seem to be a reason either. Anyway, I am going to guess Pakistan.
@Bull3t: thanks for the comment; I invented the contest more as a joke to stir discussion, but if it turns out that you were right I’ll make sure to mention you when it happens.
klkue
Now its blocked by PTA (Pakistan Telecommunication Authority) in Pakistan.
http://www.fahdmurtaza.com/myblog/2008/02/22/youtube-blocked-by-pta-in-pakistan.html
Blogspot seems to be blocked in Thailand again