Have just come across this piece on NBR where Vodafone NZ has passed on this release on how it has responded to the Egypt telco and internet blackout. And revealed that Vodafone NZ has been affected becasue of the call centre it runs in Egypt.
The ramifications of the shutdown on communicatiosn are huge. It’s led me to ponder how it’s done, and what would be the circumstances that would lead a regime to make the decision to do so. Clearly unlikely here.
This article explains how it was done.
http://gigaom.com/2011/01/28/how-egypt-switched-off-the-internet/
Sure it’s unlikely, but not entirely impossible. NZ’s experience in 1951 is still in living memory and the Australians are rolling out the Great Firewall of Australia this year. While it is intended to be directed towards unlawful material, we should remember that Julia Gillard was quick to declare that Wikileaks is illegal.
There’s a voluntary filter system for ISPs in NZ, but I would be wary of any system that sets up the architecture to have a chilling effect on the freedom to seek and impart information.
People might say it is unlikely in the US also. Yet former Vice-Presidential candidate and current US Senator Joe Lieberman is promoting a federal law to give the US Government the power to shut off the internet.
See for example http://boingboing.net/2011/01/28/egypt-just-turned-of.html
Was Gerry Brownlee given the ability to shut down the internet with the CERRA?
I believe he can, he can repeal and amend any law singlehandedly, so presumably he can add a section banning the internet to the Crimes Act…
It may seem unlikely but if our govt introduced the kinds of austerity packages seen elsewhere, and our population rebelled, then of course it could be a possibility.