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Iran Cracking Down on Digital Media

by Leila Brillson on June 17, 2009 at 12:20 PM


Since the first reports that Iranians had taken to Twitter to express their outrage over the dubious reelection of incumbent leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over Mir Hossein Mousavi on Monday, Iranian officials have reportedly cracked down on online media. Tuesday, the Iranian government banned international reporters from leaving their headquarters and filming the ongoing protests, claiming to have the journalists' safety at heart. Furthering their grip on the Internet, the country's Revolutionary Guard, responsible for maintaining and enforcing Islamic Law, has said it will ban or prosecute any sites that publish material that "creates tension." Tension, it appears, is an understatement, as CBS reports that the protests have already left seven people dead. The Washington Times has stated that key figures in the opposition movement have been detained.

Despite Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's calls for a united Iran that supports the government, former candidate Mousavi continues to argue for a recount, encouraging protesters to raise their voices. Using proxy servers and amateur video, Iranians continue to pump YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter (which postponed scheduled maintenance this weekend at the U.S. State Department's behest) full of information about -- or at least images and first-person footage of -- what is happening within the country.

Though the elections have sent the country spinning into turmoil, it's been amazing to note just how politically divided Iran has actually become. Also, it's become evident that, while social networking services are certainly not the most ideal way to receive news, the world of Web 2.0 provides citizens with a global forum and, in so doing, the opportunity to challenge injustice worldwide. [From: CNN.com, WashingtonTimes.com, CBSNews.com]

Tags: facebook, Iran, protest, top, Twitter, web 2.0, Web2.0

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