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Bangladeshi telecom authorities shut down smartphone messaging and voice services Viber and Tango, which have become a popular communication medium for supporters of the anti-government protests now in their third week.
The Bangladesh Telecommunications and Regulatory Commission closed down the apps “for the time being” on orders from law enforcement and security agencies, a commission spokesman told AFP. He did not give reasons for the decision, but local television station Channel 24 said Viber and Tango were shut down to prevent protesters from “exchanging information” across the country.
Viber and Tango have been popular among opposition protesters, including activists from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its Islamist allies who have launched a crippling nationwide transport blockade to try to topple the government. The protests have turned increasingly violent with activists firebombing hundreds of buses and trucks, and security forces retaliating with live bullets or tear gas. At least 25 people have died in the latest violence including about a dozen burnt to death after protesters firebombed buses.
http://www.bgr.in/news/bangladesh-shuts-down-messaging-services-viber-and-tango-to-quell-violence/
[Also Covered By]: http://phys.org/news/2015-01-bangladesh-messaging-quell-violence.html
Do you think that such measures really work, either in the short term or in the long term ?? Given the above situation how would you handle it ?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 19 2015, @10:59PM
I'd move out of Bangladesh. But I don't have a personal stake in the fight or to Bangladesh.
Applied to the United States... no, I don't think such actions would succeed. But it's a reminder that as long as there are pipes which can be blocked or centralized services which can be shut down, your freedom of communication is limited to those who control those pipes and services.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Monday January 19 2015, @11:56PM
Well, one can always use a low tech phone [youtube.com] to coordinate one's rebellion - weather permitting, perfect freedom.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 2) by DECbot on Tuesday January 20 2015, @12:26AM
That works until some three letter agency tracks everyone you call, everyone that calls you, and everyone your caller calls, and the callers' caller calls..... and tracks all of their political affiliations (member of $TERRORIST party? YES/no). Then officers with black uniforms with red armbands ^W^W^W^W^W black body armor jump out of armored vans with machine guns and secret court papers in hand to haul you away to secret trials.
cats~$ sudo chown -R us /home/base
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday January 20 2015, @01:54AM
Go watch the documentary piece that I linked to get an explanation on how it works.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 20 2015, @01:56AM
the link doesn't go to a documentary but to a daffy duck b/w cartoon
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday January 20 2015, @03:39AM
Did you also notice if the cartoon shows an indian coordinating an attack by the use of a low tech phone?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 20 2015, @05:07AM
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 20 2015, @05:12AM
wow, can't even html applebaum moto e project [torproject.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 20 2015, @05:53AM
Yeap, as old as the Native Americans: smoke signals.
(happy now?)
(Score: 1) by anubi on Tuesday January 20 2015, @08:21AM
Apparently, there is a several smart phone ad-hoc networks [wikipedia.org] (SPAN) in the fray.
Firechat is one of them.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 20 2015, @04:33PM
Why? Did he look too much like Mohamed?
(Score: 2) by Hairyfeet on Tuesday January 20 2015, @12:02PM
In case you haven't been keeping up with current events the teleco corps have been selling cellular backbone gear that lets you intercept pretty much everything [bloomberg.com] and even makes nice little transcripts thanks to the lovely software we sell with 'em. Free rubber hoses with every purchase of $75K or more so call now, operators are standing by!
Your video can claim whatever it want, won't change the fact that if the enemy controls the backbone that's your ass Mr Postman. With this gear they get location, text, and transcripts of conversations, more than enough to hang you with.
ACs are never seen so don't bother. Always ready to show SJWs for the racists they are.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday January 21 2015, @05:53AM
LOL!
FYI: the linked Looney Tunes clip "demonstrates" the use of smoke signals (from a phone booth with a chimney) to gather a horde Native Americans against Duffy Duck.
Good luck to you with your lovely software.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 1) by anubi on Tuesday January 20 2015, @01:01AM
Amateur Radio.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday January 20 2015, @01:56AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 1) by gnuman on Tuesday January 20 2015, @03:54AM
You must also have means to move out of any country to move out of it, and actual permission from other nation to actually receive you. If you don't have both, you either can't leave or risk loosing your investment in the move by being deported.
Since most people in bangladesh make less than $100/month, they may not have enough money just to move anywhere else.