Slashdot Mirror
Iran Extends Social Media Crackdown With Move To Bar Instagram (bloomberg.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Bloomberg: Authorities in Iran are preparing to block access to Instagram, extending their crackdown on social media to the only major platform still freely available. The National Cyberspace Council approved steps toward blocking the service, Javad Javidnia, deputy for cyberspace affairs at the public prosecutor's office, was cited as saying by the semi-official Donya-e Eqtesad newspaper. Instagram would join Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Telegram in being banned in the Islamic Republic, ostensibly for reasons of national security.
Despite the restrictions, Iranians including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif continue to use the services, which are widely accessible via proxy servers. Rouhani's verified Twitter account has over 800,000 followers. Javidnia said efforts to filter Instagram hadn't worked. While judicial and political officials involved were yet to reach a consensus on barring the site, the prosecutor can take a unilateral decision to do so, he said.
Despite the restrictions, Iranians including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif continue to use the services, which are widely accessible via proxy servers. Rouhani's verified Twitter account has over 800,000 followers. Javidnia said efforts to filter Instagram hadn't worked. While judicial and political officials involved were yet to reach a consensus on barring the site, the prosecutor can take a unilateral decision to do so, he said.
If you block access to Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Telegram, the people of your country may come out of their Internet induced comas, and have the time and energy to realize they should create a better country.
Thank goodness that would never happen in the U.S. /s
"We" didn't do that, it was the CIA. It didn't ask the elected government for permission, it just did it. Much like it, still today, doesn't bother to ask the elected government or God forbid the people.
But thanks for heeding my request and changing the topic away from Iran's censorship into the same boilerplate hate for America. That means a lot.
Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
So just to be clear ... Iran is an actual theocracy.
Not just a "theocracy" like as a slam against your political opponents, not an imaginary theocracy like your Handmaid Tale crap, Iran is an actual theocracy.
There is nothing surprising about this at all.