Pakistan: blogspot.com blocked again

The Don’t Block The Blog reported today that access to the popular blogging platform blogspot.com, which is owned by Google Inc, has been blocked again in Pakistan:

For about four months (since May, 2007) Google fortunately had changed the IP address of its Blogspot servers. The new IP addresses were not demarcated as prohibited by the censorship filters located at the Pakistan Internet Exchange. Today, for some odd reason, Google has suddenly reverted back to its original IP address, which has been on the block list since March of 2006. This move has resulted in the blocking of all internet traffic to the blogspot.com domain. Millions of blog readers in Pakistan now are unable to read or and interact with any of these websites.

The “Don’t Block The Blog” (DBTB) campaign was launched in response to the blanket ban on the Blogspot.com blogging platform instituted by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) more than a year ago, on 3rd of March 2006.

You can read our previous interview
with Omer Alvie, the co-fonder of (DBTB), about the blanket ban and the Pakistani campaign to support online freedom of speech.


This flash animation is converted from the Powerpoint Presentation made by Dr Awab Alvi for “The Battle for the Internet.” conference (His presentation can be viewed here-original file .ppt)

4 comments

  • Andi

    A US-based independent NGO has recently released a new public opinion survey of Pakistan, asking Pakistanis nationwide their opinion on important political and economic issues. For the full survey report, please click here, or go to http://www.terrorfreetomorrow.org

  • […] die Türkei, Thailand und China wordpress.com gesperrt. Während Blogspot in Syrien und Pakistan dauerhaft gesperrt ist, ist die Seite in China seit kurzem wieder zugänglich. Der Bloganbieter […]

  • Denny

    Why are Pakistani people rioting against their government when Al Queda has bragged about being responsible for Bhutto’s killing? Why aren’t Pakistani people rising up against Al Queda for her murder? It is very puzzling and frustrating for people in the U.S. to see this. If one of our high ranking politicians were murdered and the murderer bragged about it, every citizen would be courageous and track down and punish the criminals. Are Pakistani people just afraid of rising up against Al Queda?

  • We are, pakistanies, aginst the government bcoz it’s not a democratic one. It was imposed by Mr. Musharaff through unfair polls and cautioning formers MNAs and MPAs. Government is working against the people’s will. When American attacke Afghans, paki peoples opposed that operation but pak gov provided with startegic and logistic support to american. After removing Chief Justice of Pakistan, assisinating Benazir, you think that we support paki gov. Never, now we are fighting for our rights, basic human rights from this gov.

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