Afghanistan to set up own Internet filter, says minister

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    Date: 
    9 March 2010

    War-torn Afghanistan will set up an Internet filter to block Internet sites with sexual or violent content, a minister said. But the government denied that it was another attempt at censorship or would include the Taliban's website.

    The Afghan government said this week it would clarify new restrictions on news coverage of Taliban strikes after widespread criticism of the plan by media rights groups and some of its most important allies, including the United States.

    Information and Culture Minister Sayed Makhdoom Raheen said the new Internet bans were not linked to media freedom issues.

    "We have specified that four sites which announce sexual issues, drug trafficking and cultivation, violence issues -- like making bombs and gambling -- must be banned," he said.