Egypt

In the face of popular protests this past week, the government went to the extraordinary step of cutting Egyptians off from the Internet. This was only the most extreme manifestation of a long-running battle between the authorities and bloggers who have criticized Egypt's government for its human rights record.

Reporters Without Borders says that complaints against Internet journalists and bloggers average one each day. It says that Egyptian authorities troll Facebook, on the prowl for activists. Coincidentally, in order to use Wi-Fi, you must supply a real email address. Also, the nation's Telecommunications Law requires Internet service providers to supply the government with surveillance services and equipment.

The government also owns the main service provider, Telecom Egypt, a relationship that lets the state exert control over the international telecom interconnection facilities that provide the physical transport for the international Internet connections, according to MIT Internet expert, William Lehr.

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