Iran Blocks Facebook... Though There Are Disagreements About The Reason

from the let's-vote-for-political-reasons dept

There were a bunch of stories this weekend talking about how Facebook appeared to be blocked in Iran, with many assuming that it was due to upcoming elections, where some reformist candidates have been using the social networking site to build support. Current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is apparently claiming that he has nothing to do with it, and that he "believe[s] in maximum freedom of expression," and that he'll "look into" the block. Meanwhile, others are claiming the ban is for moral, rather than political reasons. The reality is probably a bit of both -- with the government being able to use the cover of "morality" to block an effective organizing technique for an opposition candidate. Either way, this action only seems to be calling more attention to the opposition candidate, so if the goal was to stifle his campaign, it might just have backfired.
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Filed Under: blocks, iran, mahmoud ahmadinejad, politics
Companies: facebook


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  • identicon
    Hank Ross, 26 May 2009 @ 3:44am

    Streisand effect?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 May 2009 @ 4:04am

    Considering they arrest and whip girls for wearing makeup or having the gall to show their faces in public, I would say that facebook isn't exactly a top line issue. Sort of like polishing the hubcaps on your car with no engine.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 May 2009 @ 6:58am

    LOLOL STREISAND EFFEXXX

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Facebook Developers, 16 Jun 2009 @ 1:07am

    Facebook Developers

    May be it because of Election was going on there. Now the election is end so may be it will back soon. Or may be some other reasons behind it also

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    facebook connect, 5 Oct 2009 @ 2:45am

    facebook connect

    Im from iran, thx guys for your lovely and hopeful comments,
    as is written in this article face book is blocked in iran, I realized it today and is exactly right that we dont like our current president to be president again cuz he annoyed us alot, and we really like mousavi, and cuz we all are members of his group in facebook ahmadi nejad has blocked facebook

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Facebook Applications Developer, 4 Nov 2009 @ 11:01pm

    Yeah iran block facebook during elections.

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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