Belgian authorities blocked access to 127 foreign websites last year, compared to 20 in 2013 and 73 in 2012, reports the daily De Tijd on Friday. These figures were given by Home Secretary Jan Jambon (N-VA) in answer to a parliamentary question from CD&V MP Roel Deseyn.
When a website is blocked, users are redirected to a page telling them the content is no longer available. The Secretary admits that there is no “independent monitoring” of website blocking, but maintains that each time it has happened so far, it has been at the request of a magistrate.
Philippe Van Linthout, president of the association of investigating judges, highlights that there is a procedure in place to enable potential complainants to request the reopening of a blocked website.
(Source: Belga)
