Thailand Pulls GTA IV After Teen Kills Cabbie

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Editorial, Video Games

When you read about this stuff it still seems incredulous. Officials in Thailand have banned Grand Theft Auto IV after a teen claimed to have murdered a cab driver after having seen it in the game. Thai newspapers report that the 18 year-old tried to steal the taxi then killed the 54 year-old driver when he fought back. Bangkok Police Capt. Veerarit Pipatansak claims that “he wanted to find out if it was as easy in real life to rob a taxi as it was in the game.” If convicted, the teen could face the death penalty, a high price to pay for a video game.

Which do you guys think is more ludicrous, the fact that the kid was influenced enough to commit a crime or that the officials think banning the game will stop the problem?

Read More | BBC

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Pakistan Ban of YouTube Causes Blackout

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Google, Internet, Misc. Tech

Pakistan has decided to block YouTube from its country’s usage because of offensive Islamic content. In fact, its efforts have been blamed for the site’s Sunday two hour blackout. Owner Google claims that it was because of “erroneous internet protocols sourced” from Pakistan Telecom and its PCCW Internet provider. Anyone trying to access the site was diverted to another address. Unfortunately, other countries also felt the effect until YouTube was notified of the circumstances. Pakistan joins Turkey in its censorship, and although Thailand recently lifted its ban, some content is still blocked.

Read More | BBC

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YouTube Banned in Thailand

Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Corporate News, Google, Internet

Here we go again. We recently reported on how YouTube was banned in Turkey (for a few days), due to clips deemed insulting to Turkish leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Prior to that it was Brazil, which banned the website after sexy videos of a Brazilian actress were constantly being uploaded. Now it’s Thailand’s turn, which has blocked the popular website because of a short, crude clip mocking their king, Bhumibol Adulyadej—after YouTube owner Google refused to remove the clip. Insulting the king is a criminal offense in Thailand, as a Swiss man discovered the hard way last week, after being sentenced 10 years for defacing images of Thailand’s monarchy. The offending Thai YouTube clip was viewed more than 16,000 times, and was uploaded by someone using the moniker Paddidda, now one of Thailand’s most wanted. 

Read More | New York Times

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