DUSHANBE, July 26, 2012, Asia-Plus – Several Internet-providers in Tajikistan have blocked access to the video-sharing website YouTube.

Representative of one of those Internet-companies told Asia-Plus Thursday afternoon that they have received a verbal instruction to block YouTube access from the Communications Service under the Government of Tajikistan.

“A video about a demonstration in Khorog to protest against sending additional forces to Khorog was posted on YouTube on July 23,” he said.

Besides, access to the website www.vatandor.ucoz.ru was blocked on July 25.

Internet access to leading private Tajik news agency, Asia-Plus, has remained restricted since July 23.

YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos.  The company is based in San Bruno, California, and uses Adobe Flash Video and HTML5 technology to display a wide variety of user-generated video content, including movie clips, TV clips, and music videos, as well as amateur content such as video blogging and short original videos.

Most of the content on YouTube has been uploaded by individuals, although media corporations including CBS, the BBC, VEVO, Hulu, and other organizations offer some of their material via the site, as part of the YouTube partnership program.  Unregistered users can watch videos, while registered users can upload an unlimited number of videos.  Videos considered to contain potentially offensive content are available only to registered users at least 18 years old.  In November 2006, YouTube, LLC was bought by Google for US$1.65 billion, and now operates as a subsidiary of Google.