Blogger Beware: Arrests on the Rise
In a daring mood? Apparently bloggers around the world are willing to do the time if they commit a ‘crime.’
According to a University of Washington annual report, since 2003, 64 people have been arrested for things they wrote on a blog. And the numbers are on the rise. 2007 saw three times as many people arrested for blogging about political issues than in 2006.
The largest concentration of ‘crimes’ took place in China, Egypt and Iran. However, regardless of where you are a citizen, no blogger is truly above the law.
The university cites the “growing” political importance of blogging as a cause for the uptick.
It also should be noted that the Committee to Protect Bloggers has have identified 344 people arrested – in Burma alone – potentially for blogging.
Whatever the number currently is, If I were a betting man, I’d place a wager that the number will be MUCH higher in 2008.
I’m the least surprised that it happens to be countries like China and Egypt, political freedom there simply is practically to be called prohibited.
With the rapid increase in blogs and knowing that with what they write they’re going to be read and have the truth on their political mess in the country arise to the public I’m pretty sure we’re going to be seeing a lot more from them still.
And even though some of them might be arrested, it’s for a good cause. Censorship is a horrible thing and ought to be put down.