Sudan steps up measures to block “negative” websites

March 25, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government intends to double its efforts to filter what it described as negative websites, officials here said today.

The head of the technical affairs at the National Telecommunications Corporation (NTC) Mustafa Abdel-Hafiz was quoted by the government-sponsored Sudanese Media Centre (SMC) website as saying that they seek to increase blocking of these websites by 100%.

The minister of information and culture in Khartoum state Mohamed Youssef Al-Digair who headed a meeting with NTC said that the efficiency of the NTC internet filtering systems need to be improved through better coordination between government agencies.

Neither official mentioned the category of websites they want filtered. They also vowed to increase scrutiny of internet cafés.

In the past Sudan has resorted to blocking several pro-opposition websites and also access to YouTube.

According to the NTC website, the only websites blocked in the country are those “containing pornographic materials” or those promoting “drugs, weapons, alcohol, gambling and insults against Islam”.

(ST)