Algeria's decision to block social media highly criticised

Algerian authorities are being criticised following a decision to block the internet aimed at preventing widespread cheating by high school students who are writing their Baccalaureate examinations.

Civil society organisations and the media say the internet blockage is affecting other sectors of the economy.

31 suspects have been identified in the leaked exams scandal by Algeria’s Education ministry.

“For most Algerians the government is not ready to ask for pardon. The real problem lies with the BAC board. It is a problem of corruption and reliability and Algerian authorities do not want to recognise or correct it,” Algerian journalist Amina Boumazza, told Africanews. Questions of the 2016 Baccalaureate had been leaked on social media earlier this month.

Critics of the Algerian government however think the ban might just be a test of future actions the authorities intend to take during upcoming elections.