Virtual Sit-in at Tunisian Presidential Palace
Cyber-censorship is on the rise the world over, and is especially swift and prominent in countries with dictatorial regimes. Tunisia is one such example. A year ago, the Tunisian regime blocked the two most popular video sharing websites: YouTube and DailyMotion – specifically to prevent citizens from watching testimonial videos from former political prisoners, human rights activists, and their families.
In defiance, activists have launched a virtual sit-in at the Tunisian presidential palace via Google Earth. Activists from Nawaat.org have taken advantage of the video embedding capabilities of the software, which permit users to overlay video on satellite-image maps. Google Earth users who visit the Tunisian presidential palace, among other sites, are now confronted with a series of videos profiling victims of repression and torture.
The online campaign not only bypasses and mocks the regime’s ban on video-sharing sites, but also reaches foreigners who may not be aware of abuses inside Tunisia. For the first time, virtual tourists to Tunisia can see a dark side to historic sites and beautiful beaches. To view the videos, follow these directions.
Via HAMSA Web.
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