SECTOR 1 Registration is not compulsory and permission is not required to set up websites or blogs. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 4.8 (2008 = n/a) 1.10 The state does not seek to block or filter Internet content unless laws provide for restrictions that serve a legitimate interest and are necessary in a democratic society. Panellists recalled an incident when Facebook was blocked for a day soon after a fake profile of the Prime Minister was created. There was disagreement amongst the panellists with regards to the ability and technical capacity of the State to block material or eavesdrop on cellphone conversations. There was eventual agreement that the State has both the technical and financial resources to block specific websites Internet is being successfully used as an alternative form of disseminating information, especially in cases where the government prohibits the distribution of material. When Jameel Peerally produced Paradis Andey, a documentary on drug abuse in Mauritius, the government was able to prevent the screening of the film on the pretext that authorisation had not been obtained from the Board of Censors. When addressing Parliament, the Minister claimed in his response to questions regarding the screening of Paradis Andey that there was no censorship in Mauritius. Instead, he referred to the classification of films. Peerally and his colleagues circumvented the attempt to thwart the screening of his documentary film by distributing it through internet websites. The controversy around his documentary created a great deal of media hype, resulting in the AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MAURITIUS 2010 19