How to bypass Internet censorship in Egypt: A followup on the demonstrations

January 25th will be remembered throughout history as the day of irony; the National Police holiday eventually had the entire security forces roaming the streets from all parts of Egypt in an attempt to control an overwhelming turnout for anti-corruption demonstrations. While the protesters were mobilizing and collaborating together, the Egyptian authorities resolved to desperate attempts in order to hinder the communication.

Tahrir st. on the way to downtown

Over the span of a few hours, websites like Bambuser, twitter and Al Dostor newspaper (amongst others) have all become inaccessible after an old-fashioned ‘pulling of the plug’ by the genius personnel of the Egyptian authorities. It is not clear how long the censorship will go on for, but in all cases, the following are the different ways in which you can bypass censorship and access any website you want:

1. Use a proxy website, such as hidemyass.com or any of the websites listed here
   Advantages: Very easy, just go to the website, and use the provided bar to visit any website. No installation required, and it’s free
   Disadvantages:  You’re left with an annoying header that occupies a large portion of the screen, and it’s certainly not ideal for long term. It’s better used as a quick temporary fix
2. Use the browser Opera with its Opera Turbo option (available by clicking the small clock symbol at the bottom). It is available for Windows, Mac and Linux
   Advantages: Opera is a cool browser anyway, and it’s free of course. Enabling the option is cake, and you don’t need to worry about banners or anything getting in the way – just browse normally
   Disadvantages: The Opera Turbo option compresses and caches all websites, so any image you come across will be at a noticeably lower quality than the original (that’s how they can speed up the page loading)
3. Use a free proxy software that you install and run, after which you’re free to browse any website normally. You can use Hotspot Sheild, or any of the ones listed here
   Advantages: After you install, you can have it run automatically, or just click ‘connect’ before getting started, and then any browser activity is made anonymously. It’s free
   Disadvantages: You’ll have to put up with some banner ads here and there (that’s how they can make money to support the servers that you’re going through)
4. Use a professional VPN service, such as USAIP, that not only bypasses censorship here, but also makes websites believe you’re in another country (with a handful of choices)
   Advantages: Available for all operating systems, and smart phones as well. Very simple to set up, and all you need to do is connect before starting any internet activity (not only websites, but any app you have accessing the internet). You can choose from many locations within the United State and Europe (which allows you to use websites like Hulu and BBC iPlayer)
   Disadvantages: Costs $8 monthly

I personally recommend using Opera because it’s easy and straight-forward. This should work as a temporary solution until we see the final outcome with the Egyptian authorities’ censorship stance. In the case of the prolonged continuation of web censorship, investing in a proper VPN would certainly be worthwhile. I’ve had a USAIP account anyway, so that’s what I’ve been using today.

It’s ironic that the Egyptian government declared January 25th an official holiday to commemorate the Egyptian police forces, because it’s probably the most stressful day of the year for them. But I think that it’s even more ironic that they censored the web thinking that they would be able to control us better, when it is precisely that move that will make us take advantage of the internet to its fullest extent, and work together to bring down this corrupt regime.

The beauty of the web is that it is by us, and for us, and there’s nothing that Mubarak’s family can do about it.

When the web empowers the people, and ignorance hinders the government

The press has come a long way in recent years in Egypt. In the early 90s, very few independent newspapers circulated, and many relied on the public three (Ahram, Akhbar, Goumhoreya) for news. It used to be a single, mainstream channel of communication that was easily monitored and controlled by the Egyptian authorities.

But times are a-changin.

A few months ago I wrote a post about a disgraceful cartoon published in Al Ahram right after the sectarian clashes in the south of the country. Traditional propaganda, it seems, is slowly but surely going extinct. However, just when you thought new strategies were being innovated and implemented, Al Ahram strikes back with catastrophic failure.

Following the first day of the peace negotiations in Sharm el Sheikh, the following image from the earlier meeting in Washington was made available to the public:

Obama leads the way?

Whether via computers, laptops, netbooks, cell phones or iPads, millions of people were immediately exposed to this photograph.

Back in the Ramses area of Cairo, a group of old men with mustaches huddled around a broken-down desk in a dusty room packed with record books dating back decades, decided that this is not the image the Egyptian authority would want to paint for the public – it would not be beneficial for the people to view the dictator of 30 years trail a group of the world’s leaders. This might ‘tarnish’ his reputation.

They gathered their wits, exploited the best Photoshop ‘engineer’ they could get their hands on, and made him work his magic:

Who's your daddy?

Subliminal! An absolute masterpiece. Suddenly, Hosny Mubarak becomes the leader of all good will and is single-handedly responsible for the end of the brutal occupation and human rights violations by the Israeli government.  He deserves six more years of rule come the ‘democratic elections’ of next year.

Unlike the cartoon characters a few months back, these photos were in every major newspaper’s website, and every activist’s blog before Mubarak had the chance to get his nightly medical diagnosis.

They say that when you ‘assume’, you make an ‘ass’ out of ‘u’ and the president. Here are the asses made by Al Ahram:

1. The peace talks are in any way significant
2. The Egyptian people love Hosny Mubarak and respect him, and will be shocked and devastated if they were told he is no longer the most important person in the region
3. After 30 years of corruption, poverty and human rights violations, the people will forgive the president because he is capable of taking a quick first step when walking down a hall with fellow leaders
4. No one has internet access, and no foreign news source (whether professional, or citizen/independent) is capable of follwing what is happening in peace talks
5. People are no longer interested in seeing floors in photos, and are satisfied with just carpets
6. It is normal for leaders to show up in photographs with Photoshop shadows around parts of their bodies, it’s how we all look nowadays
7. Traditional propaganda is static; if you have succeeded in manipulating the public with certain techniques, they will work forever and there’s no need to change them

The web connects people across space and time, it is the most successful tool in the history of humankind that has allowed the people to share knowledge and information. And we can do so directly, without relying on mainstream channels of communication, nor governments and authorities. While some of us are on social networks, smart phones, open-source projects, blogs and aggregators, others are convinced that the people are oblivious to the state of the real world, and will never find out. Ironically, it is the knowledgeable  people that are teaching the ignorant government.

We are the web, and no one can take that away from us.

My Failed Attempt to use a Skype Phone in Egypt

I took a bit of a risk when I saw how easy it was to order a Skype phone from their official online store and have it ‘delivered to my door’ in Cairo, Egypt.

Little did I know that there’s much more involved than entering my credit card details and clicking a button or two.

Skype logo

They say it’s not only about having a good product, it’s just as important to make it extremely easy and comforting for customers to purchase. I’ve had my eyes peeled for a Skype phone before I moved to Paris for a few months last year. It’s the logical choice, given that I’m frequently on the move, and want to be able to stay in touch with people worldwide at low prices.

I had written a blog post about the Skype – Vonage rivalry, with the latter having the edge, mainly due to its simple plug-and-play, computer-independent setup. However, now that Skype phones are more affordable and widely available, it’s cheaper and much easier to use the cross-platform Web 2.0 application for long distance calls. Some of the advantages of a Skype phone include:

• Free calls to all Skype contacts, something Vonage does not offer
• Plug an ethernet cable into the phone (or connect wirelessly via some models). No need for a computer, just a constant internet connection
• Enjoy much more competitive packages, suitable for all needs
• Easy to carry around with you and plug into any internet connection

Egypt isn’t considered one of the ‘internet shipping’ friendly countries. Some services, such as Aramex, provide a US postal address so that Egyptians can purchase from the likes of Amazon and have it delivered to the US. The 3rd party postal provider would then charge them for bringing the packages to their doorstep. It is both expensive and time-consuming, but the best option out there nonetheless. Rumor has it you’re less likely to come up against any trouble with customs via Aramex.

After following my instinct and burning LE1,000 on Skype’s website for a Dual Phone, I quickly regretted it. I’d never ordered something from Egypt to be delivered to my door. And after three weeks and no show, it was clear that it was not a simple walk in the park.

Indeed, about a month after ordering, I get a handwritten envelope and a printed letter saying that my package was there and that I needed to go pick it up. Skimming the letter quickly, I fooled myself, albeit momentarily, into thinking that all I needed to do was stop by the local post office (the guys there are pretty chill – we go way back) and pick up my VOIP phone and talk away.

Yeah…..about that. It turns out my package is held by customs and requires ‘experts’ inspection’, followed by an evaluation of the price (the actual price, which was included in the package, obviously, is no document the authorities go by) which I’ll pay and leave.

So I take the subway and get off at Ramses sq, and make my way to a huge communist block known as the Central Post Office. Funny enough, the entrance was hidden. The entire area is an architectural disaster, but with experience, you can find your way around things.

I went up to the 4th floor, where packages are received, and got to an enormous storage area with government employees scattered all over. After asking 4 or 5 people, I reached my destination where I gave them the form I received, and they gave me the catalog (pulled out of my package), and an official letter. I was told I need to hike to the other side of town and pay a visit to the official ‘Technology Management’ office where they can give the go-ahead for the phone to enter the country. After my 2nd question, the lady at the desk made it clear that she did not see it as part of her responsibilities to answer my queries, and that I should move on.

I took a cab through prime time traffic with a handful of papers and eventually made it to a modern, air-conditioned office where I wasted 10 minutes filling out a form before meeting the guy with the authority to sign my original form. He was on the his cell phone and wouldn’t even hang up, “This isn’t going to enter. I’m not going to let this through. That’s final”, and then he continued with his phone call.

Needless to say, I tried everything possible and could not get him to give me permission to let the Skype phone into Egypt.

As it turns out, any VOIP machine, of any sort, is completely forbidden from entering the Arab Republic of Egypt. That is mainly due to Telecom Egypt wanting to openly monopolize on all of the international calls made form within the country, but much more importantly, it allows the government to be able to track all of the calls made, and to review the log if there’s suspicion of any sort. They are so strict about it, that you can’t even bribe your way through it. True story.

I got back home and told my mother about it, which is an indirect way of asking for the highest connections that can do us a favor or two. We finally got to the assistant to the minister of technology, who said he’ll try his best. He came back saying that he couldn’t do anything, and that there’s absolutely no way around it.

We’re in the process of trying to get it somehow, but it looks like I’ll have them reject the package and return it, and hopefully get an almost full refund.

Bottomline is this: buy yourself a Skype phone from abroad, and smuggle into Egypt so that you can make all the calls you want for close to nothing. This old-fashioned government is trying to use outdated techniques to control the people. But as we all know, they will inevitably fail. The web, with all its protocols, is power to the people, and no authority is big enough to contain it, nor control it. We have the saying, and we decide what to bring up, and what to demolish.

When Old School Propaganda Fails To Be As Effective

As brutal and corrupt as many governments can be nowadays, some are oblivious to the fact that the Web empowers the people beyond control. Dictators like Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea, and Hosny Mubarak of Egypt might like to think that they rule with an iron fist that is virtually impossible to dismantle. While that is certainly close to the truth, little do they know that their technological incompetence and their underestimation of the power of the web is a potentially serious threat.

Egypt, for example, has opened up the press freedom over the past decade, which has encouraged a number of independent newspapers to take the stage. That, along with the exponential technological advancements that the world as a whole has experienced, has left the government thinking that perhaps it has bitten off more than it can chew. In the 80s, the three main papers were all governmental, and any story shared between the three, regardless of it authenticity, become true to the masses. Not only that, but propaganda posters and cartoons were highly effective.

Now the times are-a-changing.

After the horrific sectarian clashes in the south of Egypt, the entire Egyptian blogosphere was talking. Twitter was on fire. Facebook was flooded. And the blogs discussing the issue were scattered all over. That is when Al Ahram, Egypt’s main government-run newspaper, decided to weather the storm. Besides the fact that their website, when it actually works, looks like cow manure reshaped to fit within a computer screen, their approach was older than the president himself:

The ridiculous propaganda cartoon by Al Ahram

The “illustration”, which seems to have been scribbled and slapped together by a six year-old with mental illness, depicts the happy Egyptians together celebrating peace and prosperity. A Muslim coming out of a minaret shouts out simultaneously with his Christian counterpart standing on a church tower, “our shared enemy is the devil.” If that’s not enough, the “doves” in between are carrying hearts back and forth to imply unconditional love exchanged by all the peoples. The worst part of it all is that it’s not a joke – Al Ahram genuinely thought they would indirectly fool the crowds into believing that the all is well at the land of the Pyramids.

20 years ago, the cartoon could’ve stood a chance. Now, it could only make matters worse. The main reason being that with access to unlimited and uncensored information between the different people across space and time, old school propaganda has become ineffective. People no longer fall for the idealizing images of brutal dictators, nor photographs of happy citizens enjoying life. Not only does it need to be far more sophisticated, it also needs to be significantly more convincing. After all, there’s a lot of competition, and the web is anyone’s to create and share.

Dictators with over a quarter of a century under their belt might feel safe, but few have hopped on the fast-track trail of the internet and are therefore are not in as much control as they would like to think. For that reason, along with education, health care and infrastructure, internet access should be one of the aspects in the developement of over-exploited nations. Since effective communication is key to any change, the web is absolutely crucial in connecting the people and giving them the power they need to gain equality and justice.

The web has been, and will always be, power to the people – nothing can take that away from it.

FCC Inaugurates OpenInternet.gov

Even thought the topic of net neutrality is a sensitive one indeed, there are crowds of US citizens that are unaware of the serious threat plaguing their freedom of expression and communication. If you happen to be one of those who are not fully aware of the subject, check out this short documentary on net neutrality. And for that matter, here’s an explanation on internet censorship worldwide.

In a surprising, and some might even say suspicious, move the Federal Communications Commission has gone live with a website, OpenInternet.gov that has a video raising awareness of the subject:

The goal seems to be to prevent the internet from losing its neutrality, and to avoid the loss of one of the most basic rights for any human being. It also acts as a platform for US citizens from all corners of the globe to share their thoughts and comments – ironically yet another example of how the Web facilitates direct communication across space and time.

The initial impression is in no doubt a positive one. The only concern would be the influence that lobbyists might have on government officials persuading them to allow large telecommunications corporations to gain full control, and strip away the American people from the only absolutely pure method of information exchange ever to have been invented by humankind. Regardless of how congress decides to handle the issue, raising awareness and providing a communication channel for the people is highly beneficial. The website is currently in its beta phase, but the FCC promises to expand on it gradually.

Broadcast Yourself In HD

Last month, I posted a video about net neutrality that brought forward the serious threat facing our web. The battle is fierce at congress, with lobbyists pushing to virtually censor the internet and limit free access in support of the large corporations with dubious bank accounts, while the community of normal, everyday internet users are firm on their stance to defend what is every human being’s born right. Campaigns such as Save The Internet and We Are The Web have been successful in spreading awareness and fighting corruption. On a slightly more positive note, there has been further developments on various fronts allowing for home users to challenge cable and network television on the web.

When YouTube introduced the High Definition version of users’ videos through its website, it opened the way for millions of active members to provide users from all over the world with videos that they wanted to watch, in a much more pleasing quality. This meant that you were no longer sacrificing significant quality when you are viewing home videos. However, there was still very little competition with television channels and professional programming. The good news is that now, with YouTube, the HD quality just got better. At 850 x 480 px, the new HD quality videos are a real treat. Here’s a working example:

This is a video by the Improv Everywhere people, who are a New York-based group that go on the craziest missions throughout the city and beyond. It is a classic example of thinking outside the box, and taking the creativity to the next level. In simple words, it is a form of modern art, using the tools and services provided by our dear web.

The video is currently displayed in the traditional form. If you click on the actual screen to visit the YouTube page, you will see that it provides you with an HD option. Unlike the old days, clicking on that HD button will not slightly improve the quality, it will significantly up the resolution and size, consuming the width of the website. Go full screen, and you will completely forget that you are watching a low-budget video posted for free on the community-based YouTube. And that is precisely the beauty of the Internet.

YouTube’s new HD format means regular videos are viewed at semi-professional resolutions, closing in on the gap between the professional channels, and the people’s voice/images. Add on to that the advancements in the digital and video camera markets, and the falling prices, and you have just cooked up the perfect recipe that makes it a fair game. It has been evermore clear over the last couple of years that content provided by home users and everyday people has been claiming more and more interest and fame amongst the viewers world-wide.

Assuming that the net stays neutral, as it absolutely must, we are in for a ride, as the millions of channels of communication are allowing direct contact between internet users across space and time. With exquisite content, and now quality display, life only gets better for the lucky ones cruising on the information super highway.

Documentary On Net Neutrality

An informative, thought-provoking video that explains how the internet boomed but is now under serious threat of censorship, on many levels;

This is the one right that cannot be taken from human beings. 60 percent of the content is produced by people, not corporations, and it has to remain that way. The beauty of the internet is in the freedom it provides for every person to send whatever message they want, in whichever direction.

Internet Censorship Explained

An excellent video by Good Magazine explaining all of what is involved in censoring internet access.

The Great Firewall of China

Seemingly not satisfied with censoring major websites like Facebook, YouTube and Wikipedia, the Chinese government has ordered all PCs sold in the country to have a pre-configured software installed that would block all websites with pornographic content or language. Starting Juy 1st, anyone purchasing a new PC will have his hands tied, thanks to “Green Dam Youth Escort”, the latest technology that the Chinese government has been working on for years. In fact, they have deployed a special “Internet Police” body of more than 30,000 officers to ensure fluidity and compliance with orders.

China's Internet censored

Very few people would be willing to make a big fuss about the censorship of adult content, for various reasons. Firstly, many conservative families would actually like to prevent their children from accessing disturbing content. Secondly, no one would be proud of defending pornography, that would say many things about you that you wouldn’t like people to think. Moreover, with so many problems and human rights’ violations throughout the People’s Republic of China and beyond, there are more important things to worry about (such as basic daily needs), and there have been too many failures (According to Amnesty International, China has the largest recorded number of imprisoned journalists and cyber-dissidents in the world), so you wouldn’t want to mess with the authorities.

However, this is not an issue of pornography, it’s much bigger than that. The fact that the Chinese government can track the sites visited by every single person, and the fact that they now have the ability to censor any website whatsoever, makes the only free method of communication ever to exist almost completely impotent. It is a clear attempt to isolate the Chinese population from accessing information from the rest of the planet, and this will inevitably lead to dire consequences. While many governments are not fully aware of the power that the people posses thanks to the Internet, the Chinese authorities have done their homework and are taking all of the necessary measures to ensure totalitarianism.

What many do not realize, however, is that the Chinese government would’ve never succeeded in censoring and filtering internet access if it wasn’t for the helping hands from some of the American corporations. Google, for one, is a prime example of a company that claims to follow a certain philosophy, but acts hypocritically. Thus, while Google.com is censored, Google.cn is publicly accessible throughout mainland China. That is because Google were kind enough to offer the service of providing the Chinese with a stripped-down, filtered version of the original search engine.

As stubborn as they may be, there is very little the Chinese government can do to maintain the inevtiable explansion of the web. Sooner or later, the leackage cracks will be to big to handle, and the power will be restored to the real owners: the people.