AP Photo via Militant Website
Social media users in Iraq say they've been unable to access Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
The Kuwait News Agency confirmed that Iraq's Ministry of Communications has blocked the social networks amid fears that the extremist militant organization Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) has been using social media to organize their insurgency in the country.
BBC News' Ralph Galpin confirmed the social networks were blocked in Baghdad, but it remains unclear whether the entire country is experiencing the social media blackout or if only certain regions are affected.
This is the message users are getting when they try to access Twitter, YouTube and Facebook in Iraq:
Some users are getting this message when trying to access @Twitter & @Facebook. Govt fears it is being used by #ISIS pic.twitter.com/vnqdpDIsMl
- Ruwayda Mustafah (@RuwaydaMustafah) June 13, 2014
Users are also reporting that messaging services Viber and WhatsApp have been blocked, too.
Whatsapp and Viber have blocked in #Iraq #insm_iq #Baghdad
- zahraa ∞?. (@zahraa901) June 13, 2014
In March, Turkey also blocked Twitter and YouTube after allegations of government corruption. Twitter has a history of complying with governments when they ask to censor politically-charged content.
Countrywide bans of social media platforms are designed to impede groups from organizing, communicating, and most importantly, from mobilizing.
The Arab Spring revolutions gained power through social networking sites and effectively helped activists overthrow a powerful dictatorship while providing awareness to Arab civilians to rally in underground communities - not to mention bring the riots to a global audience.
With sights set on Baghdad, the Sunni militant group ISIS and its allies, have taken over the second largest city in Iraq, looted the equivalent of over $420 million from the central bank, and seized American-made Iraqi military equipment, including Humvees.