Iran seen tightening control of Internet

[Renew Deal]

Study shows authorities imposing stricter filtering of Web content

By Peter Sayer, IDG News Service
June 23, 2005

PARIS - Iranian authorities have tightened their control of the country's Internet connections, imposing stricter filtering of access to Web content over the last year, according to a study published Tuesday by The OpenNet Initiative.

The government has stepped up controls on content in Farsi, the language spoken by over half the country's 69 million inhabitants: content is now more likely to be blocked in Farsi than comparable content in English, the researchers found.

More blogs and pornographic sites are now blocked in Iran than a year ago, too, according to the study, although blocks have been removed from 10 sex education sites and eight sites showing "provocative attire." In addition, the authorities continue to block many sites dealing with gay, lesbian and bisexual issues, news in Farsi and opposition political parties, the study said.

Researchers for The OpenNet Initiative tried to access hundreds of Web sites with sensitive content using Internet connections inside and outside Iran. By comparing the two sets of results, and other results obtained a year ago, they were able to track the evolution of government-controlled Web filtering and blocking in the country. They used a number of methods to monitor filtering from within Iran, including having volunteers install software on PCs there, dialing in long-distance to local ISPs (Internet service providers) and using Iranian Web proxy servers from outside the country.
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http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/06/23/HNirancontrol_1.html?source=NLC-TB2005-06-23

[Mojambo]

1. I wanted to plug a website dealing with these issues

http://www.peacefire.org/

[bluestateguy]

2. Iran is a dictatorship, indeed

I wish the IRANIAN PEOPLE the best of luck in claiming a democracy for themselves, if that is what they want. As Americans, that is all we should offer.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

3. Can't offer what you don't have yourself.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Let's get over there and bomb them. We are, after all, the masters

of all we survey. How dare they not seek our will.