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Iran-Specific Version of Anonymizer Unblocks Net Access
thelaw writes "Securityfocus has an article explaining a new anti-censorship proxy set up for Iran through Anonymizer, similar to one for Chinese citizens (did anyone know we had a proxy for Chinese citizens?). An interesting quote: '"In China we're continually monitoring the state of the proxy, and when we see the traffic drop off, we change the proxy's address, usually within 24 hours," says Berman. "In Iran, we're prepared to change the proxy address every day if necessary."'"
They are filtering porn from the proxy. It's in the article.
If tits were wings it'd be flying around.
Yes, I am an Iranian myself, and I lived in Iran till 8 months ago. I can give a detailed account of the history of internet in Iran.
Internet mainly found it's way to Iran in 1997. A couple of commercial ISPs started working on that year. Before that Internet existed in (some) universities, but it was mainly unknown. In 1997, people who read computer magazines in Iran, noticed a couple of companies advetising about something called Internet. Of those companies, Neda is still the biggest ISP in Iran. (note: behind the scens, Neda is now owned by a branch of the Iranian Army called "Sepahe Pasdaran".
Of course, the rapid pace with which internet gre in Iran, is similar to that of other countries. The difference was that, in Iran, internet had a special meaning. It was still FREE (as in freedom). Comparing to other communication mediums which are all government controlled, the Internet was free. No one was controlling it, no one was censoring it. People in Iran, so used to government control and censorship, at first couldn't believe it.
In a country, where you can not have access to any broadcast media, because radio and TV are all government operated, and books and newspapers are heavily censored, internet was like a light in the hearts of iranians. The number of Iranian websites started growing. Businesses started shaping around internet. Most importantly, Cafe Nets started opening their doors, in nearly every vicinity in every twon. In 2000, even in the most deserted city in Iran, you could find an Internet Cafe, and a couple of youngsters, enjoying themselves there. It was a new feeling for Iranians, it gave them an unparralleled sense of freedom. It was perhaps the best thing that happend in many's lifes.
Also, internet presented a way for young Iranian girls and boys to talk with each other. This might be suprising for you western people, but in Iran, a young man and women can not easily talk with each other. There is no uni-sex school (even they are now seperating hospitals and universities), and if two young people are seen talking with each other in the street, they are immediately arrested and questioned (I was arrested a couple of times, for walking with my cousin in the street). Internet, didn't have these limitations. Yahoo messenger soon became a standard tool in every household, and later, with the availability of voice chat, iraniang girls and boys, really started talking to each other, in a way they hadn't experience before).
The government first started reacting to the issue of internet in early 2001. A couple of acts were passed, and a set of rules were setup for the use of internet. Acoording to those rules, for example, publishing anything unislamic became illegal, visiting any unislamic website, or any website related to groups opposing the islamic regime in Iran, became website, any kind of broadcast (radio or TV) became illegal, and also, Cafe nets started shutting down.
Those whom we calle "Lebas shakhsi ha" (those in private cloth) started atatcking internet cafes, shutting them down for reasons such as "spreading western ideas". An estimated 75000 people, who used to work on the internet cafe busness, became unemployed.
But still, the government's plan to put a proxy, shutdown all ASPs, and make all ISPs to connect to only the governmental ASP; didn't take off. Some people believe the plan didn't take off, because the Iranian government relied on WorldCom fot it's required facilities. It is certain that a agreement between WorldCom and government had been reached. Well, those things that happened to WorldCom probably delayed Iranian government's plans.
But in early 2003, they were at last able to execute their 2 year plan. ISPs were sutdown, those who remained agreed to only use the government ASP. VOIP (voice over IP) became illegal, because many Iranians were using it, t oavoid paying rediculously high pr