Iran Caps Net Access to Keep West Out

davidwr writes "The Guardian reports that Iran has banned high-speed internet access to attempt to curb the west's influence. In addition to seizing satellite dishes and filtering more websites than any country save China, Iran is now capping Internet speeds to 128kbps in order to keep out Western influences." From the article: "The latest step has drawn condemnation from MPs, internet service companies and academics, who say it will hamper Iran's progress. 'Every country in the world is moving towards modernization and a major element of this is high-speed internet access,' said Ramazan-ali Sedeghzadeh, chairman of the parliamentary telecommunications committee. 'The country needs it for development and access to contemporary science.'"

Comments

Poor people...

[Arathon]

Literally. Can the average Iranian afford high-speed internet access? I doubt this is going to cause a huge uproar in Iran, given that per capita GDP is a little over $8,000. On the other hand, what would an uproar look like in a country like Iran? Probably burning American flags, since any other form of free speech is routinely squelched anyway. File this under: "It's ALREADY worse."

Re:Silly Iranians... ALWAYS!

[Virgil Tibbs]

this is a parody of a quote by Pastor Martin Niemöller http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Niemoeller here is the translated version of his orginal poem. When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent; I was not a communist. When they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent; I was not a social democrat. When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist. When they came for the Jews, I did not speak out; I was not a Jew. When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out.