Twitter under attack
Social networking site Twitter has come under a denial of service (DNS) attack, the site reports. The source of the attack is unkown. Twitter was a key part of reporting on unrest after Iran’s disputed elections.
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US Marines ban social networks
The US marine corps have banned the use of social networking sites, after officials expressed concern about potential security risks. An order sent out to marines on 4 August informed them that they could no longer use sites including Facebook, MySpace and Twitter in case enemy groups used the information they contained to their advantage. The move is being seen by some as a signal that the Pentagon could enact a blanket ban on social networks across the entire military system. Last year the Pentagon used a fresh tactic to try and control the flow of information by launching TroopTube — a military-sponsored version of YouTube that allows serving personnel to share videos with only their friends and family members. All videos placed on the site must be checked by a Department of Defense worker before they are approved.
Twitter-like services shut down in China
Chinese micro-blogging sites Digu and Zuosa were both shut down for maintenance on 21 July. Wen Yunchao, a well-known blogger, said having two sites close on the same day indicates pressure from authorities for them to shut down. He said the timing of the closures was probably related to the 10-year anniversary on 22 July of the banning of the Falun Gong spiritual movement. Read more here
Twitter blocked in Xinjiang
Twitter and YouTube are among several sites that have been blocked in China’s Xinjiang province, as the authorities attempt to control rioting in the area.
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