A court in Pakistan has ordered the authorities to block access to nine websites; Google, Yahoo, Bing, Amazon, MSN, Hotmail, YouTube, Islam Exposed and In The Name of Allah.

Due to their offending of ‘the fundamental principles of Islam,’ Judge Mazhar Iqbal has ordered the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) to block access to the websites. However, the PTA hasn’t yet received the orders and it is doubtful whether they’ll actually be implemented. The Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan has warned of dire consequences should the bans go ahead – saying that it will cut millions of people off from the internet.

This isn’t the first time that Pakistan has banned access to the internet and nor will it be the last. However, internet is the one thing that may cause the most friction between people and power. Let’s hope so.