Vodafone Under Fire for Complying with Egyptian ISP Shutdown

With tensions and violence — including a reported five deaths — escalating in Egypt today, the White House, other governments and citizens around the world decried the country's virtual shutdown by blocking the web and hindering mobile communications.

"Very concerned about violence in Egypt - government must respect the rights of the Egyptian people & turn on social networking and internet," tweeted White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, expressing the administration's grave concerns ahead of a press conference today.

After the Egyptian Government ordered ISPs to shut down service, the UK-headquartered Vodafone complied in tandem with local ISPs, Link Egypt, Telecom Egypt, and Etisalat Misr.

Vodafone confirmed its actions today and posted the following statement defending its actions:

"All mobile operators in Egypt have been instructed to suspend services in selected areas. Under Egyptian legislation the authorities have the right to issue such an order and we are obliged to comply with it. The Egyptian authorities will be clarifying the situation in due course."

The White House wasn't buying it.Continue reading...