Officials fined for comms shutdown
GOVERNMENT
By BiztechAfrica - May 29, 2011, 10:49 a.m.
The Egyptian High Court has imposed fines totalling over USD90 million on former President Hosni Mubarak and two officials for ordering the shutdown of intenet and mobile communications during the revolution in Egypt in January.
The government ordered ISPs and telecommunications services providers to suspend services at the outbreak of the riots.
Anti-government protesters had reportedly been using social media sites to spread their dissatisfaction and fuel the revolts that brought down the government. After the communications shutdown, Egyptians turned to dial-up connections and old-style HAM radio in order to communicate with the world.
Facing charges in the past week, Mubarak, former Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif and former Interior Minister Habib el-Adly were found guilty of causing damage to Egypt's economy after ordering the shutdown.
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