The Egyptian authorities have begun shutting down web access and social media. The cyber-crackdown includes the texting and Blackberry messaging.
Reports from Egypt have indicated that all Internet service was down as of midnight Thursday in Cairo. This move by the regime comes hours ahead of planned massive rallies to protest against the political and economic situation.
In recent days, anti-government activists used the web to mobilize supporters to take to the streets.
Meanwhile, Egypt's interior ministry warned that it would take "decisive measures" against anti-government protesters. "The interior ministry reaffirms its warning against such actions and affirms that decisive measures will be taken in confronting them, in accordance with the law," it said in a statement. It should be noted that the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's biggest opposition movement, for the first time called on its members to take part in demonstrations and turn out for Friday's protests.
