Earlier this week, Wikileaks claimed that its editor-in-chief Julian Assange’s internet access had been blocked by a ‘state party’ at the Embassy of Ecuador in London, where the asylum-seeker is currently holed up. The organization wasn’t bluffing: The government of Ecuador has now owned up doing so.
In a statement obtained by Politico reporter Eric Geller, Ecuador noted that it had exercised its sovereign right to temporarily restrict access to some of its private communications network within its Embassy.”
BREAKING: Ecuador admits it cut off Assange's internet due to his use of it to interfere in the U.S. election. pic.twitter.com/VNJ6sdHhHj
— Eric Geller (@ericgeller) October 18, 2016
It explained that it did so following Wikileaks’ publishing of several caches of Senator Hillary Clinton’s confidential email correspondence, which may have an impact on the US presidential elections; Ecuador said that it “respects the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of other states.”
The 💜 of EU tech
The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!
According to the statement, that’s as far as Ecuador will go, for now. Assange is still safe and welcome to remain in the Embassy.
Via The Verge
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.