Yes. It shows how pathetic these regimes are to censor communications from their citizens.<br><br>Andrew<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 7:46 PM, Edward Cherlin <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:echerlin@gmail.com">echerlin@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;"><div class="im">On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 02:22, Andrew Thornton <<a href="mailto:secretelf77@gmail.com">secretelf77@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
> Blocking occurs without a doubt in many countries. About 3 years ago I had a<br>
> penfriend who lived in Russia. She tried to send me an email about Muslims<br>
> and Chechnya. It just wouldn't go. When she took those bits out, it went.<br>
<br>
</div>Writers worked out how to get around this sort of thing in Tsarist Russia.<br>
<br>
Plus ça change...<br>
<div><div></div><div class="h5"><br>
> Andrew<br>
><br>
> On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 6:14 PM, Edward Cherlin <<a href="mailto:echerlin@gmail.com">echerlin@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
>><br>
>> FYI. It's not part of our Circumvention software strategy, but it is,<br>
>> I think, of interest to us.<br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>
>> From: chifu_wa_malindi <<a href="mailto:chifu2222@gmail.com">chifu2222@gmail.com</a>><br>
>> Date: Fri, Feb 18, 2011 at 10:15<br>
>> Subject: [BDPA-Africa] Uganda to intercept text messages<br>
>> To: <a href="mailto:BDPA-Africa@yahoogroups.com">BDPA-Africa@yahoogroups.com</a><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> Uganda to intercept text messages<br>
>> By BENON HERBERT OLUKA<br>
>> Posted Friday, February 18 2011 at 13:30<br>
>><br>
>> KAMPALA<br>
>><br>
>> If you plan to send a mobile phone text message during the election<br>
>> period, you are best advised to choose your words carefully or the<br>
>> message could be blocked from reaching your intended recipient.<br>
>><br>
>> The Uganda Communications Commission Friday released 18 words and<br>
>> names that it has instructed mobile phone short message service (SMS)<br>
>> to flag if they are contained in any text message. They are then<br>
>> supposed to read the rest of the content of the message and if it is<br>
>> deemed to be "controversial or advanced to incite the public", will be<br>
>> blocked.<br>
>><br>
>> The words are 'Tunisia', 'Egypt', 'Ben Ali', 'Mubarak', 'dictator',<br>
>> 'teargas', 'kafu' (it is dead), 'yakabbadda' (he/she cried long time<br>
>> ago), 'emuudu/emundu' (gun), 'gasiya' (rubbish), 'army/ police/UPDF',<br>
>> 'people power', and 'gun/bullet'.<br>
>><br>
>> "Messages containing such words when encountered, by the network of<br>
>> facility owner or operator, should be scrutinised and if deemed to be<br>
>> controversial or advanced to incite the public should be stopped or<br>
>> blocked. A report of all blocked messages should then be prepared and<br>
>> submitted to UCC in 48 hours," says a confidential email sent by the<br>
>> office of the UCC Executive Director, Eng. Godfrey Mutabazi.<br>
>><br>
>> "A report of all blocked messages should then be prepared and<br>
>> submitted to UCC in 48 hours," adds the message.<br>
>><br>
>> UCC officials Friday confirmed that a meeting held on February 15 had<br>
>> agreed on the words to be black-listed. UCC Media and Public Relations<br>
>> Specialist, Isaac Kalembe, said: "It is official communication from<br>
>> UCC, having been disseminated to service providers yesterday."<br>
>><br>
>> The Manager for Communications and Consumer Affairs, Fred Otunnu, said<br>
>> the decision to censure text messages was part of its effort "to<br>
>> ensure free, fair and peaceful elections".<br>
>><br>
>> "The main thrust behind the meeting held on February 15 with the<br>
>> service providers was mainly to bring to their notice the possibility<br>
>> of manipulation of ICT during this election period with the potential<br>
>> danger of inciting violence and hatred among others. The Commission<br>
>> told them that such periods filled with high tension and excitement<br>
>> are quite vulnerable to manipulation by some people who would want to<br>
>> use the same media to incite violence among others," he said.<br>
>><br>
>> "We brought it to their attention that some words are likely words<br>
>> that may be used in trying to cause that kind of excitement. We said<br>
>> they should look out and if in their considered opinion a message has<br>
>> the potential to cause that kind of excitement, then they should<br>
>> minimise its broadcast by way of blocking it.<br>
>><br>
>> "The main purpose for us as a regulator and the service providers<br>
>> alike is together to ensure that the services are used responsibly to<br>
>> foster free, fair and peaceful elections," added Mr Otunnu.<br>
>><br>
>> Asked whether this was not a form of censorship, Mr Otunnu said: "I<br>
>> don't think it is censorship because censorship is much more than<br>
>> that. We have not actually closed down some media but even in the most<br>
>> democratic countries, governments have the responsibility to ensure<br>
>> responsible usage of such facilities."<br>
>><br>
>> Social media has been used in many countries to mobilise people to<br>
>> demonstrate against incumbent governments. The decision by the UCC to<br>
>> bar the usage of certain words seems like an attempt to circumvent<br>
>> threats by some opposition parties and their supporters that they will<br>
>> demonstrate if elections are rigged by the ruling party.<br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> <a href="http://www.nation.co.ke/News/africa/Uganda+to+intercept+text+messages/-/1066/1110046/-/rhbvdp/-/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.nation.co.ke/News/africa/Uganda+to+intercept+text+messages/-/1066/1110046/-/rhbvdp/-/index.html</a><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> ------------------------------------<br>
>><br>
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>> --<br>
>> Edward Mokurai (默雷/धर्ममेघशब्दगर्ज/دھرممیگھشبدگر ج) Cherlin<br>
>> Silent Thunder is my name, and Children are my nation.<br>
>> The Cosmos is my dwelling place, the Truth my destination.<br>
>> <a href="http://www.earthtreasury.org/" target="_blank">http://www.earthtreasury.org/</a><br>
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</div></div>--<br>
<div><div></div><div class="h5">Edward Mokurai (默雷/धर्ममेघशब्दगर्ज/دھرممیگھشبدگر ج) Cherlin<br>
Silent Thunder is my name, and Children are my nation.<br>
The Cosmos is my dwelling place, the Truth my destination.<br>
<a href="http://www.earthtreasury.org/" target="_blank">http://www.earthtreasury.org/</a><br>
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