It seems now, however, that Internet Service Providers CLARO/TELGUA, TIGO and Turbonett, Guatemala’s most prominent Internet Service Providers (ISPs), are ignoring the laws. Guatemalan users have reported blocked access to Wordpress since Friday afternoon. El Abismo de Tux called customer service and blogged about it, stating that he had received no clear answer from them.

Demuexter reported the blocked access to many blogs hosted on Wordpress. Homo Homini Lupus denounced the censorship in Guatemala and other blogs and tweets are demanding respect for freedom of expression in Guatemala. Micha Micha also reported Wordpress blocked.

Guatemala’s largest newspapers have not yet reported the incident. Other bloggers have called the office of consumer protection, but have received few answers. This block occurs just after a political crisis last month, when social media tools were used to protest against the Government and demand justice.

Under the Twitter hashtag #bloqueowp you can find more updates, and some savvy Guatemalans are using Herdict to report the blocked site.

Let’s hope that the authorities and private companies will stop blocking websites and in the future will respect Guatemalans’ rights as consumers and citizens.

Al Khayari was convicted of “gravely insulting state institutions,” and of minor violations of regulations governing foreign bank accounts and currency.

A campaign for Al Khayari is underway, with a Twitter account (@freechakib) chronicling activist efforts for Chakib's release, a video on YouTube, and a Web site [Arabic].

Three security sources, who are privy to the plan, revealed that Yar’adua last week approved the covert operation to stop websites and bloggers from influencing public opinion in Nigeria. The president’s Chief Economic Adviser, Tanimu Kurfi will source the funds for the operations.

On the one hand this is good news as the Nigerian government wakes up to the power of citizens media and that we are watching and reproting on their every step. On the other hand this is very dangerous for bloggers in the country and those outside who may wish to return home whether for a short holiday, work or permanently. We are all very much aware of what happened to two bloggers [Jonathan Elendu and Emeka Asiwe] last year who were met and detained by security officials as they landed at Abuja airport.

The plan by the government which sounds like something out of a spy movie [maybe there is much truth in those films] is to recruit ‘700′ Nigerians at home and abroad to ‘blog’ favorably about the President and his government. And like government agents world wide these people will be paid, in this case given “blogger allowances”.

“The government has decided to mobilize a few individuals to set up online forums that promise to extend the frontiers of online journalism,” said a security source. He added that, in the initial stages, these websites would release a few detailed and seemingly credible stories calculated to garner credibility for them as well as a wide readership. “But the ultimate objective is to fully divert the websites to the task of acting as attack dogs for the government’s online critics,” said a source. She added that the government plans to fund and roll out about 50 of such new websites between now and the beginning of serious campaigns for the next round of elections scheduled for 2011.

So what do we genuine bloggers do? First of all we will need be on the look out for these enemies of the people!. If you are a blogger writing lovely things about Yar’Adua and Goodluck, then it is possible you will be seen as a government ‘plant’ which is unfortunate as there just might be some deluded but genuine supporters of this most undemocratic of regimes. It is the pretense of democracy that is dangerous about this and the government of Obasanjo. It is therefore up to us bloggers and news sites to expose the lie of Nigeria as a democratic state with a free press. It is not. A government which sends out tanks and bombers on its own people is not a democratic govenrment. A government which sends out solidiers to attack the people and denies summary exeuctions by its armed forces which we all have witnessed on video is not democratic. What we do have is a corrupt government which is determined to dispossess the Niger Delta people of their resources and human rights.

Just as in Choba when pictures of solidiers raping women were denied by Obasanjo so too the army chooses to deny the excutuion of two young men. Would justice have not been better served if the army had chosen to investigate the exeuction by the JTF? Below is the response by the Nigeria Army Public Relations Unit to the video.

It has come to the knowledge of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Restore Hope, that MEND, due to its failure in the use of violence and previous attempts in denting our names which equally failed, has embarked on yet another campaign of calumny against the security outfit and its commanders by circulating constructed and acted video clips to … Read Moredepict rape and extra-judicial killings by the JTF in the Niger Delta. These concocted clips are now being forwarded to international figures for sympathy, while the media they were using hitherto, are no longer sympathetic to their cause due to the criminality and campaign of calumny of this faceless body,” Abubakar. Col. Rabe Abubakar Commander Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Restore Hope.

MEND [Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta] have called upon the UN to investigate the alleged extra-judicial killings and rape by the JTF during the recent miliatry operations Oporoza and other communities of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State.

Introduction

The academic debate on deep packet inspection (DPI) centres on methods of network management and copyright protection and is directly linked to a wider debate on freedom of speech on the Internet. The debate is deeply rooted in an Anglo-Saxon perspective of the Internet and is frequently depicted as a titanic struggle for the right to fundamentally free and unfettered access to the Internet.2

This debate is to a great extent defined by commercial interests. These interests whether of copyright owners, Internet service providers, application developers or consumers, are all essentially economic. All of these groups have little commercial interest in restricting free speech as such. However some might well be prepared to accept a certain amount of ‘collateral damage’ to internet free speech in exchange for higher revenues.
It can be argued that more transparent and open practices from network service providers are needed regarding filtering policy and the technology used. Nevertheless these practises are unlikely to fundamentally endanger free speech. Within the international system however, there are a large number of actors who have a considerable interest in limiting free speech, most obviously states.

As this paper will argue, the link between deep packet inspection and internet censorship is of far greater concern for freedom of speech than its use in traffic shaping or preventing copyright infringement. At the present time many of the states censoring the internet are already known to use deep packet filtering.3

A further question that arises in this context is whether state actors which censor the internet are following the lead of non-state actors and modifying content within the data stream rather than just blocking it. As DPI opens the door for far more subtle censorship methods, it could lead to a move from filtering internet content to editing it.

This paper will start by providing a short overview of DPI and it’s technical capabilities, before discussing the motivations of state and non-state actors using DPI. A short sample of various actors using DPI for censorship purposes will be provided and various scenarios related to censorship which are enabled by DPI will be introduced. Finally, some preliminary conclusions will be drawn and technical and institutional responses to dpi will be sketched.

A short overview of deep packet inspection (DPI)

Deep packet inspection technology has been used in various forms since the late 1990s. Its initial development was closely linked to the security industry and early versions of DPI found their way into firewalls and other security software during this time.4

The rise of denial of service (DoS) attacks at the beginning of the 21st century further contributed to the rollout of DPI technology, as it was seen as an effective form of defence against this and other forms of attack.5 Advances both in processing power6 and in DPI technology allowed for the advent of security products including very advanced features such as “application intelligence.”7

“Generally speaking, DPI focuses on analyzing all the content of data packets passing through the network, the headers and the data protocol structures (as opposed to the prior “Shallow Packet Inspection” that would only analyze the packet header) and compares this content against rules or signatures (for example, virus signatures).”8

What Security Focus described as the “Firewall Evolution” in 2003 has quickly come to signify that a large number of security products and firewalls now incorporate DPI technology.9 The use of DPI solutions has become so widespread that it is now used by many major global internet service providers. Furthermore, the use of DPI technology has become pervasive across the Internet, with most users frequently completely unaware of its existence.10

Before discussing the implications of the widespread use of DPI, a detailed description of the technical capabilities of DPI will be provided.

Please Continue Reading Complete Report here (pdf), link to it and help disseminate this important information.

Table of contents

1. Introduction
2. A short overview of deep packet inspection (DPI)
3. Technical capabilities of DPI technology
4. Reasons for using DPI technology
5. Actors currently using DPI for censorship
6. Scenarios enabled by DPI technology
7. Preliminary Conclusions
8. References

—-
Notes:

[*] A first draft of this paper was presented at the 3rd Annual Giganet Symposium in December 2008 in Hyderabad, India. For their advice and support preparing this paper I would like to thank: Ralf Bendrath, Claus Wimmer, Geert Lovink, Manuel Kripp, Hermann Thoene, Paul Sterzel, David Herzog, Rainer Hülsse, Wolfgang Fänderl and Stefan Scholz.

[1] (Bendrath 2009)
[2] (Frieden 2008, 633-676; Goodin 2008; Lehr et al. 2007; Mueller 2007, 18; Zittrain 2008)
[3] For further examples see page 6
[4] (Theta Networks Inc 2008; Top Layer Networks 2008)
[5] (Houle and Weaver 2001, 21; Top Layer Networks 2008)
[6] (Cox 2008)
[7] (Leyden 2003)
[8] (Theta Networks Inc 2008)
[9] (Dubrawsky 2003-07-29)
[10] (Anderson 2008; Kassner 2008)

Guardian quoted Xiao Qiang, the founder of China Digital Times, that “this is definitely a warning to Google, as well as other foreign companies. It is also a strong warning to Chinese netizens. The government is showing its determination to keep the internet under control.”

At the same time, Chinese netizen found out that the CCTV news report about Google's obscene and indecent “associated search term” was in fact a set-up.

In the CCTV news report, when a netizen key in “son” in the Google search, the top three suggested associated search terms appeared to be:

Son and mother inappropriate relation
Son and lover
Son and mother having sex

Since the suggested search term is a listing of most searched terms within China, it is a bit odd to see “inappropriate relation” to be one of the popular search term (the expression is strange in Chinese). A netizen looked into Google insights for Search and find out that 100% of the search for “son and lover” and “son and mother inappropriate relation” came from Beijing between June 10-17, and the CCTV's program was on air on June 18th!

Below are the screen capture of Google insights for search on “son and lover” and “son and mother inappropriate relation”:

Here for more background about Beijing propaganda department's campaign against Google.

2009 Declaration of the Anonymous Netizens

To the Internet censors of China,

We are the Anonymous Netizens. We have seen your moves on the Internet. You have deprived your netizens of the freedom of speech. You have come to see technology as your mortal enemy. You have clouded and distorted the truth in collaboration with Party mouthpieces. You have hired commentators to create the “public opinion” you wanted to see. All these are etched into our collective memory. More recently, you forced the installation of Green Dam on the entire population and smothered Google with vicious slander. It is now clear as day: what you want is the complete control and censorship of the Internet. We hereby declare that we, the Anonymous Netizens, are going to launch our attack worldwide on your censorship system starting on July 1st, 2009.

For the freedom of the Internet, for the advancement of Internetization, and for our rights, we are going to acquaint your censorship machine with systematic sabotage and show you just how weak the claws of your censorship really are. We are going to mark you as the First Enemy of the Internet. This is not a single battle; it is but the beginning of a war. Play with your artificial public opinion to your heart's content, for you will soon be submerged in the sea of warring netizens. Your archaic means of propaganda, your epithets borrowed straight from the Cultural Revolution era, your utter ignorance of the Internet itself - these are the tolls of your death bell. You cannot evade us, for we are everywhere. Violence of the state cannot save you - for every one of us that falls, another ten rises. We are familiar with your intrigues. You label some of us as the “vicious few” and dismiss the rest of us as unknowing accomplices; that way you can divide and rule. Go ahead and do that. In fact, we encourage you to do that; the more accustomed you are to viewing your netizens this way, the deeper your self-deception.

You are trying in vain to halt the wheels of history. Even with your technocratic reinforcements, you will not understand the Internet in the foreseeable future. We congratulate you on your adherence to your Cultural-Revolution style conspiracy theories in your dealings with dissent; for we too get nostalgic at times. We toast to your attempts to erect a Great Wall among your netizens, for such epic folly adds spice to any historical narrative. Still, there's something we feel obliged to tell you.

NOBODY wants to topple your regime. We take no interest whatsoever in your archaic view of state power and your stale ideological teachings. You do not understand how your grand narrative dissipated in the face of Internetization. You do not understand why appealing to statism and nationalism no longer works. You cannot break free from your own ignorance of the Internet. Your regime is not our enemy. We are not affiliated in any way with any country or organization, and we are not waging this war on any country or organization, not even on you. YOU are waging this war on yourself. YOU are digging your own grave through corruption and antagonization. We are not interested in you, destined for the sewage of history. You cannot stop the Internetization of the human race. In fact, we won't bat an eyelid even if you decide to sever the transpacific information cables in order to obtain the total control you wanted. The harder you try to roll back history, the more you strain the already taut strings, and the more destructive their final release. You are accelerating your own fall. The sun of tomorrow does not shine on those who are fearing tomorrow itself.

We are the Anonymous Netizens. We are the sum of the world's entire online population. We are coordinated. We are dominant. We are innumerable. For every one of us that falls, another ten joins. We are omnipresent. We are omnipotent. We are unstoppable. We have no weaknesses. We utilize every weakness. We are the humanity under every mask. We are the mirrors of conscience. We are created equal. We are born free. We are an army. We do not forgive. We do not forget.

LIBERTY LEADS THE INTERNET.

WE'RE COMING.

Moreover, Google.cn has also removed some of its search functions, including searching for overseas content and searching with associated terms. Below are two screen captures that show the differences between the past and the pressent google.cn search interface. (via google.org.cn)

Eventhough netizens keep defending google.cn's search function against CCTV's propaganda campaign, more and more portal sites and news sites published commentaries and stories criticizing google.cn for “poisoning” youths with obscene content. For example, China Youth Daily Online quoted extensively from CCTV focus interview's finding and citicized google.cn for being irresponsible to the society.

Diaa, who was released last March after being arrested and ill-treated, told Global Voices in a phone call, that a force of State Security raided his house two weeks ago, and searched his apartment, and the whole building where he is living. He said:

I was out when the police broke into the house. I find no explanation for searching the whole building, but terrifying the neighbors. State Security officials summoned me, more than one time.

Another blogger was banned from traveling, Abdel Mone'm Monieb the owner of a blog called Nahw El- Tagdeed (To Innovation), was traveling to Lebanon, where he was supposed to appear on a TV interview to discuss his book ‘A Map of the Islamic movements in Egypt'. He was stopped in the last minute and did not manage to catch his flight.

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), the publisher of Monib's book, considered this banning a flagrant violation of basic human rights and citizenship, and said in a statement:

ANHRI strongly condemns such intimidation attempts and illegal pursuing of released political prisoners. The network also denounces the detention of the writer and denying him his right to travel and move. Such measures and continuing pressures on the writer are a deliberate violation of the human rights

Meanwhile in Alexandria, the blogger Kareem Amer is passing his 25th birthday behind bars, as sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment in 2007. Because of his posts on the blog, he was accused of defaming the president and insulting Islam.
Kareem, now in Borg El Arab prison in Alexandria, reports to his lawyers that he is steadily being exposed to violation of his rights from prison officers who told him they will carry on “until you go back on what's in your head”.

What seems to be positive this week was a court decision to stop the detention order for blogger and activist Mus'ad Abu Fagr, which means that he should be released immediately. Abu Fagr, who is blogging on Wedna Ne3eesh (we just want to live), has been arrested since 26 December 2007.

Even the decision seems to be good news, Abu Fagar still in prison. The Ministry of Interior used to issue a new detention order after every decision by D.A to realse him.

Meanwhile, the prominent politician and former candidate for presidency Ayman Nour, held a conference in solidarity with the blogger Tamer Mabrouk, who was fined with L.E. 2500 (446 USD), and civil compensation of L.E. 40.000 (7272 USD), because of some writings on his blog Al-Hakika Al-Masreyya (The Egyptian Truth)

Nevertheless, the conference took place in Port Said (Suez Canal), where Mabrouk is living. It was not only to support Mabrouk, but other bloggers were also mentioned. The invitation to the conference reads:

Ayman Nour, the head of Al-Ghad party invites you to attend a conference in solidarity with the blogger Tamer Mabrouk and all opinion prisoners
As not to repeat the misery of Mohammad Adel, Kareem Amer and Mus'ad Abu Fagr.

The arrest was widely condemned by Mauritania’s civil society including a statement from the journalist’s union president demanding his immediate release and a call for a sit-in to show solidarity with Ould Dahah.

While the reasons for the arrest remain unclear: Taqadoumy (The Progressive) has been the most outspoken Mauritanian website denouncing the ruling junta and Mauritania’s previous elected government.

The 2 year old leftist website broke many taboos by publishing stories on corruption, misconduct drawing the ire of the country’s political class.

The authorities arrested reporter Abbass Ould Abraham last March and filtered the site temporarily. Ould Abraham’s short ordeal was triggered by a very critical column he published deconstructing Mauritania’s military ruler General Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz. “Shutting down our website made us only stronger” was Hanevy’s comment on that episode at the time.

The site Taqadomy reported last May that the number 2 man in the regime, senator Mohcen Ould Elhaj, hurled obscenities at one of its correspondents at a Nouakchott hotel in front of a crowd of reporters present to cover a high level event. He also threatened to exact revenge from the news site and its editor during his outburst.

Married and father of one boy, Ould Dahah is most known for his popular column “Fiery Letters” which he started before launching Taqadoumy.com is widely read because of the combination of his vigorous criticism of the country’s successive governments and his unique writing style.

The Mauritanian authorities have not commented yet on the arrest while no indictment or charges have been brought against the 33-year old father of one.

Mohammad Ali Abtahi, former reformist vice president and an adviser to Mehdi Karoubi, a reformist candidate, was arrested last Tuesday. Abtahi used to update his blog each day for several years and share his opinion on different topics, including Iranian issues.

Here is the last post that his friends published in his bilingual blog, Webneveshteha:

Mr. Abtahi arrested
Mohammad Ali Abtahi,former vice president during Mr. Khatami's presidency and the advisor to Mr. Karroubi in the presidential election had been arrested today (Tuesday). Whenever he gets released, he will write here on his website

In one of his last posts he called election “obvious cheating”:

I analyzed the obvious cheating. It was a huge swindling. Election was planned so wisely. From one hand it made a new record of voting as it broke the previous record of Mr. Khatami who had gained more votes in second term of his presidential election and Mr. Ahmadi Nejad should gain more than him. Also they would like to destroy Mr. Mosavi and his companions. Another important part of scenario was the story of Mr. Karobi's 300,000 ballots. Although Mr. Karobi had a fixed huge number of votes, they considered 300,000 votes for him avoiding others to say such democratic mottos. Meanwhile information of other towns was showing at least equal votes for Mr. Mosavi and Ahmadi Nejad.

Somayeh Tohidloo, a female reformist blogger was also arrested. As protests against the Iranian presidential election results grows, Iranian authorities continue to arrest political activists. Recently, she and a couple of bloggers organized an Internet interview with former president Mohammad Khatami.

It seems that her blog is no longer accessible.

Mojtaba Saminejad, an Iran-based blogger and human rights activist, informs us about several other arrested bloggers.

Saminejad says that Shiva Nazar Ahari, a female blogger and human rights activist, Mehesa Amarabadi, a female blogger and journalist,Karim Argandehpour, a blogger and leading journalist and Amad Baharvar have all been detained.

So far there is no information about the charges against those bloggers.