Tyrant Mubarak vs. The Media

Reports rang out earlier in the week, Mubarak and his supporters were trying to shut down the media coverage in Egypt.

According to Arab News, "The government has accused media outlets of being sympathetic to protesters who want the president to quit now rather than serve out his term, as he has vowed to do."

Not only has media coverage spoken out against the president and the government corruption but also, media sites are actively being used to organize demonstrations.

Egyptian police and other security services have earned the reputation to ruthlessly dismantle political opposition.

The Egyptian government has moved to ban Facebook, Twitter, Al-Jazeera and other international journalist.

"For instance, on Facebook Group call We Are All Khaled Said, features up-to-the-minute updates on the protest and photos from the scene," states Tech Crunch.

New York Times reports Facebook has swept Egypt "with more than 473,000 users and it has help spread the word about the demonstrations in Egypt."

Could this be another reason why to ban the media?
According to Facebook Group We are all Khaled Said reports, the Egyptian National TV and AlMehwar Egyptian channel are broadcasting, "the whole revolution was a plot by USA, Israel, Hamas, Muslim Brotherhood, Iran and Khomeini. They have all paid $50 thousand for each protester," and "Egyptian National TV as announced that the proof that all those million of protesters are spies for USA& Israel, is that they are all carrying spy equipment."
Do you think Egyptian government wants this to get out?

With attempts to ban Facebook, Twitter and other media outlets, just last week, protesters found a loophole in the government's block on all Internet networks. The activists used dial-up modems and satellite phones to broadcast images, videos and reports of a distraught country. The Huffington Post exclaims, "Despite Social Media Block 'Egypt' Surges on Twitter."

Intimidation on international journalists in Egypt is on the rise. The new 'concerted campaign' to intimidate foreign reporters covering the protests was introduced by the Egyptian government. The tactics to harass interfere with the Internet and networks and where they detain reporters; telling two reporters they were not allowed to leave their hotel.

XE reports a Reuter's crew was 'beaten up on Thursday close to Tahrir Square" and "a Greek reporter was stabbed in the leg by Mubarak supporters and a photojournalist was beaten to the head."

CNN's Anderson Cooper was punched and kicked in Cairo by Mubarak supporters.

"The Egyptian government is employing a strategy of elimination witnesses to their actions," saids Mohamed Abdel Dayem.

New York Times says it best, "Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and mobile phones make it easy for human rights advocates to get out the news and for ordinary people to spread and discuss their outrage...where freedom of speech and the right to assemble are limited and the government monitors newspapers and state television."

Mubarak and the Egyptian government are clearly trying to contain the information that is going in and out of their country denying the rights of the residents there. In America, we fought for the freedom of speech and for the freedom of press. In this day in time, how can government control the most basic rights human beings have? It brings to question: What are the government's limits and how far is too far?