1. It would be ruinous for Egypt’s economy
Writing at MSNBC.com, Wilson Rothman points out that while the government can afford to keep the Internet down over the weekend, Monday morning will be a whole other story.
“It’s currently the weekend in Egypt, which means the government’s decision to block all Internet traffic in response to protests may seem to many of the nation’s 84 million inhabitants as more of an inconvenience than cataclysm,” Rothman wrote, adding, “Not only would it impact government holdings, but it’s sure to hit those investors, businesses and middle-class citizens who may support the status quo of the Mubarak administration.”
2. It breeds further resentment
With Mubarak promising strides toward democracy, keeping the Internet restricted after so many Egyptians had already tasted its freedoms will not convince many citizens that their leader is serious. As Twitter’s company spokesperson put it today, ‘We believe that the open exchange of info & views benefits societies & helps govts better connect w/ their people.”
3. U.S. pressure
As President Barack Obama outlined today, the precarious support for the Mubarak government offered by the United States is posited on Egypt’s curtailing the use of force against the demonstrators and restoring access to the Internet. “I also call upon the Egyptian government to reverse the actions that they’ve taken to interfere with access to the Internet,” Obama said from the White House, “with cell phone service and to social networks that do so much to connect people in the 21st century.” Should Egypt persist with its Internet ban, what little American acquiescence remains toward Mubarak would likely evaporate.
1. It would be ruinous for Egypt’s economy
Writing at MSNBC.com, Wilson Rothman points out that while the government can afford to keep the Internet down over the weekend, Monday morning will be a whole other story.
“It’s currently the weekend in Egypt, which means the government’s decision to block all Internet traffic in response to protests may seem to many of the nation’s 84 million inhabitants as more of an inconvenience than cataclysm,” Rothman wrote, adding, “Not only would it impact government holdings, but it’s sure to hit those investors, businesses and middle-class citizens who may support the status quo of the Mubarak administration.”
2. It breeds further resentment
With Mubarak promising strides toward democracy, keeping the Internet restricted after so many Egyptians had already tasted its freedoms will not convince many citizens that their leader is serious. As Twitter’s company spokesperson put it today, ‘We believe that the open exchange of info & views benefits societies & helps govts better connect w/ their people.”
3. U.S. pressure
As President Barack Obama outlined today, the precarious support for the Mubarak government offered by the United States is posited on Egypt’s curtailing the use of force against the demonstrators and restoring access to the Internet. “I also call upon the Egyptian government to reverse the actions that they’ve taken to interfere with access to the Internet,” Obama said from the White House, “with cell phone service and to social networks that do so much to connect people in the 21st century.” Should Egypt persist with its Internet ban, what little American acquiescence remains toward Mubarak would likely evaporate.