Internet Freedom Called Into Question as Google Blocks Innocence of Muslims in Some Middle East Countries

Palestinians burn a U.S. flag during a protest against the movie, "Innocence of Muslims." (Photo: AP/Adel Hana)

Violence against U.S. Embassy’s in Egypt, Yemen and Libya (four were killed including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens) has led some countries in the Middle East to petition Google to block the anti-Islam and anti-Muhammed movie trailer posted on YouTube that the rioters claim is the focus of their ire. Some have been petitioning Google to take it down while others, looking toward the future, wonder if Google should change its policies to prevent such events.

Given that the video doesn’t violate any of YouTube’s policies, which is a product owned by Google, the site is refusing to block it completely. But in an unusual move, it did temporarily block access to it in Egypt and Libya on Wednesday. On Thursday, Pakistan’s government decided to follow suit. AFP reports Indonesia has petitioned Google to block the film as well, while Afghanistan’s government has temporarily blocked access to YouTube as a whole.

Internet Freedom Called Into Question as Google Blocks Innocence of Muslims in Some Middle East Countries

The trailer, at the time of this posting, has more than 1.4 million hits on YouTube. It has been reposted many times on the site as well. (Image: YouTube screenshot)

“We work hard to create a community everyone can enjoy and which also enables people to express different opinions,” YouTube said in a statement. “This can be a challenge because what’s OK in one country can be offensive elsewhere. This video – which is widely available on the web – is clearly within our guidelines and so will stay on YouTube. However, given the very difficult situation in Libya and Egypt we have temporarily restricted access in both countries. Our hearts are with the families of the people murdered in yesterday’s attack in Libya.”

Internet Freedom Called Into Question as Google Blocks Innocence of Muslims in Some Middle East Countries

Muslim anger over perceived Western insults to Islam has exploded several times, most recently in Tuesday's attacks against U.S. diplomatic posts in the Middle East. (Photo: AP/Adel Hana)

Reuters reports Afghanistan blocking the site as a preemptive step to prevent violence within its own country:

“I welcome any decision by the government because it badly affects the minds of young Afghans,” a senior government official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Another government official, who also declined to be identified, confirmed the ministry had ordered all Afghan Internet providers to block YouTube’s site.

Fears the video could provoke riots prompted at least one provider to act before the government’s orders were received.

“We have not yet been told, but we blocked YouTube … to avoid the blood of innocents spilling over. All it takes is one Mullah watching that video, and then he’ll preach about it later on, causing chaos”, said Farhad Fazi, the president of Internet provider AFSAT.

With this latest incident, which is actually one of many calling into question Internet freedom, CNET writes that with 72 hours of video being uploaded to YouTube every minute, there are “increased the odds of collisions between free speech and conservative religious sensibilities.” Here are a few other recent instances CNET calls out:

In May, the Pakistani government blocked access to Twitter over potential “blasphemous” caricatures of the prophet Muhammad. Two years earlier, Pakistan temporarily pulled the plug on connections to Facebook after a Seattle cartoonist’s satirical suggestion that Thursday be dubbed “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day.” And then there was the controversy over the cartoons in a Danish newspaper in 2005.

In Saudi Arabia, blogger Hamza Kashghari was arrested in February on blasphemy charges for daring to criticize Islam. Even the Vatican managed to persuade the Italian government to shutter Web sites that allegedly posted blasphemies against God and the Virgin Mary.

Google is now in a difficult situation, John Ribiero for IDG News writes, when it comes to “mak[ing] a choice between Internet freedom and helping keep the peace.”

In light of recent events, some like Michelle Stinson Ross for Search Engine Journal are asking questions like who should decide where the line between free expression and religious tolerance lies? The individual? Or “should service providers like Google amend their user policy in light of this incident?”

So we pose the question to you:

Related:

The Associated Press contributed to this report.