Internet blocking in China and Iran posing greater challenge

A study by a Canadian researcher has found that Internet blocking in China and Iran are becoming more effective in blocking news unpalatable to their authoritarian regimes. The authors of the study suggest that broadcasters combine forces to fight the censorship. From The New York Times, October 11, 2011, by John Markoff. Full story

Critics question effectiveness of Haystack in abetting Iranian protests

A researcher on circumvention tools criticizes the media for blindly accepting the effectiveness of Haystack in aiding the Iranian people in protesting the election results last summer. -db Jillian C. York Blog September 13, 2010 By Jillian C. York Last summer, a circumvention tool was born, out of opportunity and a desire to help the [...]

Iran thought to ban reporting on opposition leaders

A letter from the Iranian government appearing on opposition web sites orders the media to refrain from reporting on two defeated presidential candidates, Mir Hussein Moussavi and Mehdi Karroubi, as well as former President Mohammad Khatami. -db The New York Times August 25, 2010 By William Yong and Robert F. Worth TEHRAN — In a [...]

Iranian bloggers at great risk in using Internet

In the last year since the protests over the Iranian election, the government has arrested 170 bloggers and journalists with 22 receiving prison sentences totaling more than 135 years. Authoritarian governments are sharing technology aimed at stifling dissent and in the last two years have increased their effectiveness in silencing critics. -db Voice of America [...]

Congress leads way in promoting world-wide internet freedom

Congressmen have introduced legislation to strengthen the ability of groups and individuals to evade government control of the internet. The legislation would provide grants to universities, private companies and research groups to develop technologies to defeat suppression and censorship. -db Tech Daily March 9, 2010 By Juliana Gruenwald Reps. Chris Smith, R-N.J., and David Wu, [...]

New access to social media may precipitate change in Iran

After the U.S. Treasury Department decided to exclude social media services from sanctions against Iran, there is hope that these services will help Iranians  effect political change. Iran is a special case in that nearly half of the population uses the internet. -db Citizen Media Law Project Commentary March 11, 2010 By Arthur Bright Anyone who [...]

International internet freedom gets boost in latest regulations proposed by Obama administration

The U.S. Treasury Department announced changes in its sanctions against Cuba, Iran and the Sudan which allows internet service to these countries even when they are under U.S. sanctions. -db Electronic Frontier Foundation Commentary March 10, 2010 By Danny O’Brien The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on Monday key amendments to the [...]

Iranians bloggers and journalists face death sentence

In anticipation of the Islamic Revolution’s 31st anniversary on February 11, Iranian authorities are blocking the internet and prosecuting bloggers and journalists. -db MediaShift February 9, 2010 By Clothilde Le Coz Iranian authorities are once agan cracking down on the Internet. Internet connection speeds were degraded in several cities in advance of the Islamic Revolution’s 31st [...]

Iran gains edge in diet wars as blogger loses weight in jail

According to the Iranian government, a leading cleric-blogger has attained self-improvement by slimming down in prison. Says CMLP blogger Andrew Moshirnia, this success may cause a stampede in the U.S. to emulate Iranian weight-loss practices. -DB Citizen Media Law Project Commentary September 15, 2009 By Andrew Moshirnia A little while back, I wrote about the [...]