State-owned Libya Telecom and Technology has forced the shutdown of vb.ly, a “link shortening” website run from San Francisco. It claimed that the content of the site was“against Sharia law”. Domain names with the suffix “.ly”, which are owned by Libya, have become popular recently. Other moves by the ministry could threaten another web startup, bit.ly, in which millions of dollars has been invested. In June, Tripoli announced that domain registrations with fewer than four characters were restricted for use only by those based in Libya. Andrew Cohen, the general manager of bit.ly, said in February that he foresaw no issues with using a Libyan domain name. American politician Mitt Romney has exercised caution by changing his mitt.ly shortener to mi.tt.
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Support free expression for all
At Index on Censorship, we believe everyone deserves the right to speak freely, challenge power and share ideas without fear. In a world where governments tighten control and algorithms distort the truth, defending those rights is more urgent than ever.
But free speech is not free. Instead we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism independent, our advocacy sharp and our support for writers, artists and dissidents strong.
If you believe in a future where voices aren’t silenced, help us protect it.
At Index on Censorship, we believe everyone deserves the right to speak freely, challenge power and share ideas without fear. In a world where governments tighten control and algorithms distort the truth, defending those rights is more urgent than ever.
But free speech is not free. Instead we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism independent, our advocacy sharp and our support for writers, artists and dissidents strong.
If you believe in a future where voices aren’t silenced, help us protect it.
At Index on Censorship, we believe everyone deserves the right to speak freely, challenge power and share ideas without fear. In a world where governments tighten control and algorithms distort the truth, defending those rights is more urgent than ever.
But free speech is not free. Instead we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism independent, our advocacy sharp and our support for writers, artists and dissidents strong.
If you believe in a future where voices aren’t silenced, help us protect it.
At Index on Censorship, we believe everyone deserves the right to speak freely, challenge power and share ideas without fear. In a world where governments tighten control and algorithms distort the truth, defending those rights is more urgent than ever.
But free speech is not free. Instead we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism independent, our advocacy sharp and our support for writers, artists and dissidents strong.
If you believe in a future where voices aren’t silenced, help us protect it.
At Index on Censorship, we believe everyone deserves the right to speak freely, challenge power and share ideas without fear. In a world where governments tighten control and algorithms distort the truth, defending those rights is more urgent than ever.
But free speech is not free. Instead we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism independent, our advocacy sharp and our support for writers, artists and dissidents strong.
If you believe in a future where voices aren’t silenced, help us protect it.
READ MORE
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The week in free expression 17 October – 24 October
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Police in Islamabad raid the press club in an escalation of Pakistan’s attack on the media
Akbar Notezai travelled to the capital to talk exclusively to some of the journalists who were physically assaulted
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Reports of Urdu’s death are greatly exaggerated
An exploration of Urdu’s origins, its rich literary tradition and its increasing popularity among the young as a language of resistance
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North Korea fears the Squid Game effect
Kim Jong Un is more afraid of Korean television drama series than he is of foreign attacks