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Censorship and the internet
Censors and dissidents, tussling over YouTube
Apr 12th 2007
From The Economist print edition
AT FIRST sight, anyway, it seems like one more case of a clumsy, authoritarian government being wrong-footed by nimble creatures from cyberspace who acknowledge no borders and can leap effortlessly over almost any obstacle. YouTube, the website that dominates the market in user-generated, online videos (or in plain language, a place where almost anybody can post a film about almost anything) has been blocked by Thailand's military-backed government. The ban was imposed in a fit of indignation over a 44-second clip that mocked the country's monarch. It was a crude bit of work, showing King Bhumibol Adulyadej with feet over his face and mouth, an image certain to offend Thai Buddhists.
Given that last year's coup in Bangkok was presented as an action carried out in the name of the king, Thailand's rulers have a big stake in the sovereign's prestige. Hence their demand to the California-based site (bought last year by Google for $1.65 billion) to scrap the offensive material; and their decision, when faced with YouTube's refusal, to block access to the whole site. When they decide to withdraw the clip, we'll withdraw the ban, snapped Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom, the communications minister.
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