Porn today, gone tomorrow: Egypt bans porn websites

Looks like the Internet’s oldest profession is putting some clothes on in Egypt. Courts in the country have ruled that porn websites are illegal.

The decision is based on a similar 2009 ruling against online smut that has not yet been enforced. Egyptian publication Egypt Today confirmed the news in a tweet, stating courts would be banning the websites as of now. Of course, the 140-character social network promptly lit up like a switchboard with angry people wanting their porn (or freedom from censorship, one of the two).

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One Twitter user says, “Rejoice Egypt, a new black market for porn CDs is in the making.”

Another user jokingly (we think) offers to sell proxies to Egyptian porn-watchers, allowing them to access the scandalous material online anonymously. His going rate is $8 a proxy. You can follow the conversation on Twitter using the #EgyPornBan hash tag.

The Egyptian government has been accused of censoring the Internet before, most recently during the overthrow of former leader Hosni Mubarak. During that time, social media was cut off, making it difficult for protesters and demonstrators to coordinate over the Internet.

If we are sure of anything in this world, it’s Rule 34: If it exists, there’s porn of it. If the lawmakers are serious, they can’t stop at the Internet. They will have to censor books, paintings, music, college dorm posters, email, sex text messages (sexting), and just about every teenaged-boy’s brain. The Egyptian government will now have to figure out a way to determine what is actually porn and what is artistic expression or a private moment.

hat tip The Next Web; Fig leaf image via Shutterstock