Pakistan blocked access to Facebook today over the Everybody Draw Mohammed Day event on 20 May. A judge at Lahore’s High Court issued an interim order, which expires on 31 May when a detailed hearing will take place. It has been reported that some users are still able to sporadically access the site, whilst others are using proxy websites to circumvent the ban.
China may ban anonymous online comments. In a China Daily article yesterday, government spokesperson Wang Chen confirmed plans to implement a real-name registration system. Currently, people must register a username in order to post on all major news sites but the new measures will introduce “an identity authentication system for users of online bulletin board[s]”, as well comment posting. This will effectively make it easier for authorities to target those vocalising subversive opinions online.
Natalia Radzina: Must more Belarusian journalists die before Europe pays attention?
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The United Arab Emirates authorities is to monito internet users in public places such as malls and cyber cafes according to a report from the newspaper Emarat al-Youm on Wednesday. People without newly-mandated national ID cards will not be allowed to use the internet in public places. The authorities justified the rule saying it was introduced to combat cyber-crime and child pornography.