SECTOR 1 There have, in practice, been restrictions to websites and blogs “whether they are under the national .zm domain or not.” For instance, through the denial of services by local service providers, i.e. “government’s friends,” platforms on the .zm domain can easily be shut down and surveyed. Therefore, “outside domains become more popular.” 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: 4.2 (2013:2.8; 2011:4.4; 2009:4.3; 2007:n/a; 2005:n/a) 1.9 The state does not seek to block or filter Internet content unless in accordance with laws that provide for restrictions that serve a legitimate interest and are necessary in a democratic society, and which are applied by independent courts. The last few years have seen the blocking of news websites and the shutdown of the Zambian Watchdog, an investigative media website, in 2016. Comments were made from the government side indicating that the “government had the desire to close down some websites,” especially the news sites Zambian Watchdog, the Zambian Eye, and Zambia Reports. These sites, however, were not specifically named, but because of the nature of the content published on these sites, it is assumed that these are the ones targeted. The mainstream media occasionally uses news websites as sources for information; the sites, therefore, have a certain degree of influence outside the online space. Though websites have been blocked, “there is no real evidence that they [government] specifically have blocked” sites. There has, however, been an incidence in which the vice-president, when asked about the blocking of the Zambian Watchdog, stated in Parliament that “friends of the government may have done so.” 24 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZAMBIA 2017