The hijacking of Yemen's .YE domain didn't happen in a vacuum. It's the final step in a long strategy of digital state capture.
Evidence from @RegainYemen's 2022 report shows how Houthis turned the entire telecom sector into a tool for war, surveillance & profit. 🧵
🔗: regainye.org/2022/06/30/reg…
Evidence from @RegainYemen's 2022 report shows how Houthis turned the entire telecom sector into a tool for war, surveillance & profit. 🧵
🔗: regainye.org/2022/06/30/reg…
Step 1: Seize State Assets.
After 2014, Houthis captured TeleYemen, YemenNet & Yemen Mobile. They purged staff & installed loyalists supervised by Iran's IRGC and Hezbollah, giving them total control over state infrastructure.
#FreeDotYE
After 2014, Houthis captured TeleYemen, YemenNet & Yemen Mobile. They purged staff & installed loyalists supervised by Iran's IRGC and Hezbollah, giving them total control over state infrastructure.
#FreeDotYE
Step 2: Eliminate the Private Sector.
- Sabafon was confiscated.
- Y-Telecom was nationalized.
- MTN was forced out & replaced by YOU-Telecom.
As @RegainYemen documents, the entire telecom market now serves the Houthis militia.
- Sabafon was confiscated.
- Y-Telecom was nationalized.
- MTN was forced out & replaced by YOU-Telecom.
As @RegainYemen documents, the entire telecom market now serves the Houthis militia.
Step 3: Weaponize the Revenue.
In 2021 alone, Yemen Mobile paid the Houthis over 83 BILLION rials in taxes, fees & inflated expenses documented by @RegainYemen.
This isn't business. It's war financing.
In 2021 alone, Yemen Mobile paid the Houthis over 83 BILLION rials in taxes, fees & inflated expenses documented by @RegainYemen.
This isn't business. It's war financing.
Step 4: Build a Surveillance State.
The Houthis use their control to block websites, monitor private messages & spy on citizens. This has created a state of total digital control, backed by UN findings.
Yemenis are living in a digital prison.
The Houthis use their control to block websites, monitor private messages & spy on citizens. This has created a state of total digital control, backed by UN findings.
Yemenis are living in a digital prison.
This brings us to today. The hijacked .YE domain is the public face of this captured system. It gives their propaganda international legitimacy.
That's why we launched #FreeDotYE. Help us demand @ICANN act.
Share this thread. Sign the petition.
🔗: freethedotye.org
That's why we launched #FreeDotYE. Help us demand @ICANN act.
Share this thread. Sign the petition.
🔗: freethedotye.org
@ICANN unroll @threadreaderapp
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
