James Delahunty
14 Feb 2013 21:26
An Egyptian regulator has appealed against an order to block the YouTube website in the country, saying that the block is not enforceable without serious economic costs.
The National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority is objecting to a court ordered block on YouTube over the availability of, "Innocent of Muslims" a movie trailer deemed blasphemous for portraying the Islamic prophet as a stupid, sexual deviant.
"The National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority has presented an appeal to halt implementation of the verdict," a statement read. "The government cannot carry out the contents of the verdict within Egypt's borders."
It warned that it was technically impossible to shut down YouTube in the country without harming Google's Search business, and so risking economic damage. It also noted that the video itself is already blocked in Egypt.
"Blocking YouTube would affect the search engine of Google, of which Egypt is the second biggest user in the Middle East," the statement said, also going on to say that only the United States can block YouTube.