BAGHDAD – Iraq’s communications ministry has ordered Internet and mobile companies to block social media websites and applications as militants drive towards Baghdad, technicians from two major service providers said Friday.
The technicians said video-sharing site YouTube, social network site Facebook, micro-blogging site Twitter and communications applications WhatsApp and Viber were all affected.
The ministry was not immediately reachable for comment.
The move appeared to be linked to a major militant offensive, spearheaded by jihadist group the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, which has overrun all of one province and chunks of three more since Monday.
Militants and their supporters have been active on sites including Twitter during the offensive.