Censorship: A Weapon of Massive Stupidity
For a few days now, Tunisia has been experiencing a huge wave of censorship on the Internet. Not that censorship did not exist there before, but this time it is different and completely out of control, causing tunisian bloggers, tweeples and every single web user to be frustrated on a daily basis by the news of yet another blocked website.
It all began a few days ago when the french online news websites “Rue89“, “Le Nouvel Observateur” and “20minutes” have been “killed” by the now famous error code 404. That usually happens when you type a wrong URL and the error code tells you the page is not found. But in Tunisia, you don’t know that for sure, because many of the error 404 warnings you get are simply caused by the fact that the ATI (Tunisian Agency of Internet) decided you do not have the right to access the page you want. This has been going on for years now, preventing people from watching videos on YouTube or DailyMotion, reading several online newspapers, forums, blogs and NGO websites.
But this time, it is a huge attack on the web that is going on.
As I said earlier, it began with a few french websites, pages that Tunisian like to read from time to time. Then it went on with the censorship of video sharing websites such as Metacafe, wat.tv and blip.tv that many Tunisian cybercitizens use as alternatives to the longtime censored giants YouTube and DailyMotion. This was shocking enough at that point when the news of Flickr being censored spread.
This was too much to bear. Twitter and Facebook profiles were immediately flooded with angry reactions, protests and calls for ceasefire addressed to “Ammar”. Ammar 404 is the nickname given to the half real half fictional character used by Tunisian cybercitizens to designate their censor in chief. No one knows for sure who is really Ammar. People usually use this nickname to talk about ATI agents, but this actually designates the whole system.
But the wave did not stop there. After the news, the videos and the pictures, Ammar attacked the blogs. He is used to them, he knows exactly how to look for them, how to select the best content to kill it, he already done that in the past. But this time, he decided to make more and more blogs disappear. And among his victims there are some of the finest and most famous tunisian blogs. But as every stupid system, the censorship also reached some old blogs that are barely active and didn’t utter a word for ages.
That was enough! The protests continued and actions were taken. Many have decided to tell Ammar to get his hands off the web and stop the massacre. Pictures are published continuously now, showing Ammar the signs of cybercitizens power and shouting at him their need for freedom and their refusal of his idiot and blind attacks. Lists of blocked websites are made, several FaceBook groups are asking for the censorship to stop and many many tweets are keeping track of every article or blog post talking about the wave, making sure everyone knows what is going on, how many websites are still being censored and calling for action.
No one knows for sure the reason of this wave of censorship. What we do know, is that Ammar has succeeded in creating a wave of protests and united dozens and hundreds of Tunisian cybercitizens who firmly decided that, for once, they will not shut up!
Join the Conversation
Hi Nadia,
I was touched by your article. Ammar 404 isn’t in Tunisia only. It’s found everywhere in the Arab world.
Ammar 404 is the stereotype, the mainstream, the taboos, the traditions, the red lines, and everything prohibited/censored in our lives in the name of the Holy Trio: State, Religion, and the Society. Amen!
Let’s send Ammar 404 to the prison of history!
You’ve really inspired me with an audio project of 3 to 7 minutes. I’ll record it, and will get back to you, dear Nadia.
I’m ashamed that this happens on the same land of the late Bourguiba!
Greetings from Cairo to all the uncensored minds of The Green Tunisia!
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Hi Ahmed! You are so right! Censorship is more than blocking some blogs on the internet. Ammar is every person or group of people who has the power to decide what is right or wrong, what is suitable or not, what you should or should not see, hear and say, and force you to respect those rules even if they are stupid.
Thanks for your comment, I’m waiting for your project!
I’ve sent you an email message, Nadia! Check it out!
I suppose the sad thing is, the censors think they’re doing the “right thing” and “protecting” people from themselves.
But people are innovative, creative beings and I’m sure they’ll always find ways to access information.
For my part, I pray for the safety of those who choose to object and speak out, both their physical safety and their spiritual protection from agents of unrighteousness.
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