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.

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.