The Global YouTube Blockade: Who, When, and Why

A low‑quality but provocative film, The Innocence of Muslims, sparked global outrage. Several Muslim-majority countries demanded Google block access to the film. Others—Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan—blocked YouTube entirely to protect citizens. Russia also raised demands: on October 1 the Moscow Tverskoy Court will review the Prosecutor General’s request to ban the film in Russia.

Over its 7‑year history, YouTube has faced censorship in multiple countries. Who blocked it, when, why—and how did YouTube respond?

• Iran, December 2006: the first YouTube ban began over an “immoral” video; later during the 2009 election protests further blocking ensued. Users bypassed filters via proxies and Tor. YouTube featured protest videos on a dedicated channel.

• Brazil, January 2007: a court ordered YouTube blocked over paparazzi footage of a model having sex on the beach. The ban lasted two days, as the court reversed the filtering order.

• Turkey, March 2007–October 2010 (with gaps): banned repeatedly over content deemed insulting to Atatürk or political figures, including a scandalous video of a politician. Access resumed only after content removal.

• China, October 2007 (fully blocked again in March 2009): banned after protest videos showing state violence against Tibetan monks appeared. Still inaccessible behind the Great Firewall.

• Tunisia, November 2007–January 2011: blocked for videos insulting the president; unblocked amid Arab Spring protests.

• Pakistan, February 2008 & May 2010 & September 2012: bans triggered by cartoons, Fitna trailer, and The Innocence of Muslims—each time lifted once content was removed or selectively filtered.

• Syria: temporary access pre‑2011, then full re‑blockade amid civil war; authorities periodically shut down internet entirely, though activists still upload footage via proxies.

• Indonesia, April 2008: blocked over Fitna, then shifted to selective removal after public pressure—current access mostly restored.

• Armenia, March 2008: first post-Soviet state to briefly block YouTube during election protests; reopened shortly after.

• Bangladesh, March 2009 & September 2012: bans for revealing political criticism and later the Islam‑provoking film; activists helped restore access.

• Libya, January 2010: blocked due to contrasting protest and regime videos; reopened after the civil war ended.