Jon Holato

First it was Turkey, then it was Thailand. Now it’s Morocco’s turn. Internet users in the North African country have been unable to access the popular video-sharing Web site YouTube since May 25th, and there is growing suspicion that the site is being deliberately blocked by the government.

While the Moroccan government has said it does not comment on telecommunications issues, state-controlled service provider Maroc Telecom claimed that the issue was due to a technical difficulty. However, media watchdog Reporters Without Borders remained skeptical, raising the issue of “we wonder how a ‘technical problem’ can affect only one website.” The group added that Internet users accessing the Web through private service providers were still able to access the site.

The controversy has reportedly stemmed from the viewing of YouTube videos critical of the Moroccan government’s behavior in Western Sahara, which is a disputed territory that Morocco assumed control of in 1975. So clearly we’re dealing with another Internet censorship case.

It continues to sadden me at how many countries are pulling the plug due to material they find offensive. What the Digg revolt showed earlier this month is that the Internet is a truly democratic medium, where the collective voice of the masses does matter. And what this action by Morocco shows is the continued attempt by governments to suppress this collective voice. Not only will this Internet censorship battle continue to wage on in the coming months and years, but I believe it will get worse, with governments becoming more proactive about censoring material. The bad news for them, however, is that despite all attempts to control the masses, the people are the ones that hold the power in the end. And if you upset them enough they will revolt, in which case the government will lose every time.