If there was any doubt that the Egyptian government treated private tech companies alarmingly during the recent protests, mobile company Vodafone says that it was forced to send waves of government-scripted propaganda text messages, the source of which was unclear to mobile customers who received them. Vodafone says that carriers Mobinil and Etisalat were also forced to send similar messages.
According to Vodafone’s statement, “Vodafone Group has protested to the authorities that the current situation regarding these messages is unacceptable … We have made clear that all messages should be transparent and clearly attributable to the originator.”
A few of the messages Vodafone was forced to send:
“The Armed Forces asks Egypt’s honest and loyal men to confront the traitors and criminals and protect our people and honor and our precious Egypt.” (via)
A message sent on February 2nd “announc[ing] the location and timing for a mass demonstration to support Mubarak.” (via)
“To every mother-father-sister-brother, to every honest citizen preserve this country as the nation is forever.” (via)
“Youth of Egypt, beware rumors and listen to the sound of reason — Egypt is above all so preserve it.” (via)
