Internet Switched Off, Restored In Libya

As the wave of anti-government sentiment continues to spread across the Middle East, protests in Libya took a strange turn last night when the L.A. Times reported that the Internet was down across the country. Dozens have been killed in Libya since the protests began, and the loss of communications stoked fears of a deadly crackdown. But within just six hours, Internet communication was restored.

It is unclear whether this suspension of online access was simply a test of the country’s ability to do so, or if Libyan leaders bowed to international pressure to restore communications. However, social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook are still suspended.

This mysterious suspension and restoration of communication comes quick on the heels of similar actions during the recent uprising in Egypt, which toppled the reigning government. The events in Libya may indicate a move against suspending total Internet access during a time of unrest, as such actions did little to hamper Egyptian protests. In fact, the Egyptian government’s communications crackdown drew further international attention and condemnation.

Though the intent behind the shut down can only be guessed at, it underlines the Internet’s growing role in the political life of countries. Moreover, the difficulty nations face when they try to impose control over internet communications. This is a brave new world, and hopefully we’ve seen the last of Internet killswitches.

(Image and story Via The Next Web)