SECTOR 1 “Anyone can set up a website or blog. Malawians use them to talk about topical issues and even publish scandals online, which the newspapers might be too careful to publish.” While Malawians may feel free to express themselves in this manner, the audience is very limited as a small minority of Malawians have access to the internet. The International Telecommunications Union statistics for 2009 showed that approximately 4.7 percent of the country’s inhabitants used the internet. 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: 5.0 (2010 = 4.8; 2008 = n/a; 2006 = 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. From 2004 to 2012, under the leadership of Bingu wa Mutharika, attempts were made by the state to block national access to the websites of two private newspapers which were seen to be in opposition to the government. These were the Nyasa Times and The Nation Online. However, as these websites were registered overseas, prohibiting access was not possible. Mention was made of an opposition Member of Parliament complaining, during a May 2012 sitting of parliament, that access to the Nyasa Times and other websites, including Facebook, had been blocked within the parliamentary precinct. Government admitted that it had done this to limit distractions and not curtail access to information. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MALAWI 2012 21