Google rejects White House request to remove anti-Islam film

Google says it has restricted access to the film in Egypt, Libya, India and Indonesia, but video to stay on site.


Reuters September 15, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO: Google Inc rejected a request by the White House on Friday to reconsider its decision to keep online a controversial YouTube movie clip that has ignited anti-American protests in the Middle East.

The Internet company said it was censoring the video inIndiaandIndonesia after blocking it on Wednesday inEgyptandLibya, whereUSembassies have been stormed by protestors enraged over depiction of the Prophet Mohammad as a fraud and philanderer.

On Tuesday, theUSAmbassador toLibyaand three other Americans were killed in a fiery siege on the embassy inBenghazi.

Google said was further restricting the clip to comply with local law rather than as a response to political pressure.

"We've restricted access to it in countries where it is illegal such asIndiaandIndonesia, as well as inLibyaandEgypt, given the very sensitive situations in these two countries," the company said. "This approach is entirely consistent with principles we first laid out in 2007."

White House officials had asked Google earlier on Friday to reconsider whether the video had violated YouTube's terms of service. The guidelines can be viewed here

Google said on Wednesday that the video was within its guidelines.

US authorities said on Friday that they were investigating whether the film's producer, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, a 55-year old Egyptian Coptic Christian living inSouthernCalifornia, had violated terms of his prison release. Basseley was convicted in 2010 for bank fraud and released from prison on probation last June.

COMMENTS (19)

Hmm | 11 years ago | Reply

@Tony Singh: Hmm, wonderful advice. Mind taking heed to it yourself instead of showering the rest of us with it?

Cautious | 11 years ago | Reply

@sick of this nonsense

@Cautious: try making a page about Hitler in facebook and you will be banned. Freedom of speech flies out of the window then.

Facebook is operated by a Corporation - not the US govt. Whatever rights/limitations you have are outlined in the contract you sign when you open a Facebook acct. The US Constitution guarantees your right to free speech - it doesn't require news/social media to publish your comments. You want to dress up as Hitler and march outside a Synague - go right ahead - might be in bad taste but it's your right. You want an absolute right to publish trashy stuff on the internet -- then start-up your own Facebook.

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