Censorship in Iran
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[edit] Internet Censorship in Iran
[edit] Background
Iran has recently experienced a great surge in internet usage, and, with 7.5 million people on the internet, currently has the second highest percentage of its population online in the Middle East, after Israel.[1] When initially introduced, the internet services provided by the government within Iran were comparatively open. Many users saw the internet as an easy way to get around Iran's strict press laws.[2][3] With the election of Iranian president Mohammad Khatami, and the start of the 2nd of Khordad reform movement, a clampdown occurred that worsened after the election of conservative president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2005. Iran is now considered to be one of the most repressive internet-censorship regimes in the world.
Many bloggers, online activists, and even technical staff have faced jail terms, harassment and abuse.[4][5] In November 2006, Iran was one of 13 countries labeled "enemies of the internet" by activist group Reporters Without Borders.[1]
[edit] Internet service providers
Every ISP must be approved by both the Telecommunication Company of Iran and the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and must implement content-control software for websites and e-mail. ISPs face heavy penalties if they do not comply with the government filter lists. At least twelve ISPs have been shut down for failing to install adequate filters.[6] The state blacklist consists of about 15,000 websites forbidden by the Iranian government.[3] Before subscribers can access internet service providers, they must first promise in writing not to access "non-Islamic" sites.[7]
[edit] Software
The primary engine of Iran's censorship is the content-control software SmartFilter, developed by San Jose firm Secure Computing.[7] However, Secure denies ever having sold the software to Iran, and alleges that Iran is illegally using the software without a license.[8]
As of 2006, Iran's SmartFilter is configured to filter local Farsi-language sites, and block prominent English-language sites, such as the websites for the New York Times, Amazon.com, IMDB.com, AmnestyInternational.org, Blogger, YouTube and Wikipedia.
The software effectively blocks access to most pornographic sites, gay and lesbian sites, women's rights sites, reformist political sites, news media, sites that provide tools to help users cloak their internet identity, and other sites nebulously defined as "immoral" on various grounds. Iran censors more internet sites than any other nation except China.[1]
[edit] American proxy server
Iranians can sometimes access forbidden sites through proxy servers, although these machines can be blocked as well. In 2003, the United States began providing a free proxy server to Iranian citizens through its IBB service Voice of America with internet privacy company Anonymizer, Inc.[8] The proxy website changes whenever the Iranian government blocks it.
However, even the U.S. proxy filters pornographic websites and keywords. "There's a limit to what taxpayers should pay for," an IBB program manager was quoted as saying.[9] The forbidden keywords are controversial--banning "gay" effectively bars access to a host of gay and lesbian sites--and have had unintended consequences. The banning of "ass", for example, blocks access to the website of the United States Embassy.[10] A complete list of the blacklisted keywords on the American server can be found here.
[edit] Internet connection speed restrictions
In October 2006, the Iranian government ordered all ISPs to limit their download speeds to 128kbps for all residential clients and internet cafes. Although no reason for the decree was given, it is widely believed the move was designed to reduce the amount of western media (e.g. films and music) entering the country.[11] There is also a newfound state awareness of how domestically produced content considered undesirable can pervade the internet, highlighted by the 2006 controversy over the appearance of a celebrity sex tape featuring a popular Iranian soap opera actress.[1] (See the Iranian sex tape scandal)
[edit] Domestic criticism
Not all the Iranian public back up the governmental decision and a petition has been developed to Stop Internet Censorship in Iran. The censorship is expected to persist with the presidential election of the conservative candidate Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
[edit] See also
- Islamic Revolutionary Court for slandering the Supreme Leaders
[edit] External links
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c d Tait, R. (2006.) "Censorship fears rise as Iran blocks access to top websites". The Guardian UK. Retrieved December 9, 2006.
- ^ Feuilherade, P. (2002.) "Iran's banned press turns to the net". BBC.com. Retrieved December 9, 2006.
- ^ a b BBC News. (2003.) "Iran Steps Up Net Censorship". BBC.com. Retrieved December 9, 2006.
- ^ Amnesty International. (2004.) "Iran: Civil society activists and human rights defenders under attack". AmnestyInternational.org. Retrieved December 9, 2006.
- ^ Reporters Without Borders. (2005.) "Reporters Without Borders welcomes release of blogger Arash Sigarchi" RSF.com. Retrieved December 9, 2006.
- ^ Reporters Without Borders. "Report on Iran". Retrieved December 9, 2006.
- ^ a b OpenNet Initiative. (2006.) "Internet Filtering in Iran in 2004-2005: A Country Study". Retrieved December 9, 2006.
- ^ a b Knight, W. (2005.) "Iranian net censorship powered by US technology". The New Scientist. Retrieved December 9, 2006.
- ^ Poulson, K. (2003.) "US sponsors Anonymiser – if you live in Iran". The Register UK. Retrieved December 9, 2006.
- ^ McCullagh, D. (2004.) "U.S. blunders with keyword blacklist". CNET News.com Retrieved December 9, 2006.
- ^ Reuters. (2006.) "Iran cuts Internet speeds to homes, cafes"". Reuters.com.
