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Iranian Internet access disrupted, raising fears of censorship
February 20, 2012 | 2:01 pm
-- Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran and Emily Alpert in Los Angeles
REPORTING FROM TEHRAN AND LOS ANGELES -- Internet access was disrupted in Iran on Monday, raising fears that the state might be stepping up censorship ahead of national elections next week.
Foreign websites beginning with “https” were not available, an Iranian technology expert said. The disruptions followed a week of spotty email and interrupted access to social networking sites. This time, special software that many Iranians use to dodge government filters was not working.
Iran has long censored the Internet, blocking some URLs and filtering the Web with keywords, according to the media freedom group Reporters Without Borders. YouTube and websites where people share photos are off limits. Police have arrested Web developers.
This year, the government has added more pressure for Iranians who go online. New government rules require Iranians to show their photo IDs and give full names when they visit cyber cafes. The cafes, in turn, must track the websites their customers visit. Internet connections have grown spottier, users complain.
More: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/02/iranian-internet-access-disrupted-raising-fears-of-censorship.html
-- Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran and Emily Alpert in Los Angeles
REPORTING FROM TEHRAN AND LOS ANGELES -- Internet access was disrupted in Iran on Monday, raising fears that the state might be stepping up censorship ahead of national elections next week.
Foreign websites beginning with “https” were not available, an Iranian technology expert said. The disruptions followed a week of spotty email and interrupted access to social networking sites. This time, special software that many Iranians use to dodge government filters was not working.
Iran has long censored the Internet, blocking some URLs and filtering the Web with keywords, according to the media freedom group Reporters Without Borders. YouTube and websites where people share photos are off limits. Police have arrested Web developers.
This year, the government has added more pressure for Iranians who go online. New government rules require Iranians to show their photo IDs and give full names when they visit cyber cafes. The cafes, in turn, must track the websites their customers visit. Internet connections have grown spottier, users complain.
More: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/02/iranian-internet-access-disrupted-raising-fears-of-censorship.html
5 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
Edit. 
No! The story is American propaganda!
Or, uhhhh, it's the mean old United States and Israel's fault that Iran "had" to do this!
I mean how often do these cables break on their own 
Also, did you see there is a new Middle East Group: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1253
