Following the Syrian Internet blackout Thursday, American web hosting providers have been shutting down official Syrian websites after

being warned by a human rights organization that they were in breach of US sanctions on the country, according to a report by The New

York Times.

Web monitoring companies such as Akamai released data Thursday confirming that the Syrian Internet outage left just 8 percent of networks accessible to Syrian civilians.

The Internet blackout is seen by many as an attempt by the Syrian government to keep rebel propaganda and negative news out of sight.

Toronto-based research labratory Citizen Lab highlighted three websites belonging to the Syrian government that are being hosted by web hosting companies based in Texas, Florida, and Denver, as well as some websites hosted by British and Canadian web hosting providers.

An executive order by President Obama restricts American companies from providing any services, web hosting or otherwise, to Syria without first acquiring a license from the US Treasury Department.

However, many of these American hosting providers sell their hosting services, completely unknowingly, to websites operated by the Syrian government.

Meanwhile, the US State Department has been providing tips to Syrian rebels advice on how to bypass the Internet outage and provide them with mobile communication equipment.

State Department officials reaffirmed the President’s executive order on Thursday by stating that any American company providing

hosting services to Syria is violating US sanctions.