The Pakistani government blocked access to Twitter over potential
"blasphemous" caricatures of the prophet Muhammad, according to several
reports.
Twitter was asked by the government to stop a discussion about a contest
over Muhammad caricatures, something it refused to do. As a result,
access to the site has been blocked, according to the Express Tribune.
The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority passed down the directive to
Internet service providers in the country, and said it couldn't say how
long the site would be blocked.
CNET contacted Twitter for comment. We will update the story when we get a response.
The discussion was about a competition to post images on Facebook. Facebook has agreed to address the concerns about the competition, according to Pakistani blog Dawn.com.
Many Muslims consider any image of Muhammad, whether they are positive or negative, to be blasphemous.
Some governments are wary of Facebook's and Twitter's ability to offer citizens a way of communicating and rallying for change. The sites played a critical role in the toppling of governments such as the one in Egypt, and they remain blocked in countries such as China.
Facebook's site was banned for two weeks in Pakistan two years ago for running a similar contest. The move ignited protests in Pakistan, but Facebook eventually blocked the offending content.
CNET contacted Twitter for comment. We will update the story when we get a response.
The discussion was about a competition to post images on Facebook. Facebook has agreed to address the concerns about the competition, according to Pakistani blog Dawn.com.
Many Muslims consider any image of Muhammad, whether they are positive or negative, to be blasphemous.
Some governments are wary of Facebook's and Twitter's ability to offer citizens a way of communicating and rallying for change. The sites played a critical role in the toppling of governments such as the one in Egypt, and they remain blocked in countries such as China.
Facebook's site was banned for two weeks in Pakistan two years ago for running a similar contest. The move ignited protests in Pakistan, but Facebook eventually blocked the offending content.
