No more Google services for Iran? National email system to pick up the slack.

While the controversy around Google and China continues to push on, albeit at a more subdued tone, someone else looks to be crawling into the brawl. Iran, the most favorite country in the world has announced today that it plans to completely block any and all access to Gmail. The reasoning given by government officials to the WallStreet Journal claim that it is to “further technological innovation” within the country and that a nationalized email system will be rolled out to everyone.

It really does strike a heart string for me even though I’m no where near Iran. I mean, the government murders people, takes away completely legitimate internet services and access without any real reasoning, and ultimately censors everything that reaches the people. Not to mention, a “nationalized” email system is the last thing I would ever use. Having the type of government that Iran’s government is breathing down my neck and monitory my email at any given point is that last thing I’d ask for.

One other question I’d like to raise is “Why?” Why is Iran going up against Google now? Perhaps the same thing can be asked of why Google suddenly took it’s stance that it did with China. Though the circumstances here between Iran and Google are a bit different. Either way, normal citizens are going to lose out.

Censorship or meddling by the government into such deep and personal levels of our lives is BS. Yet another topic for another post at another time I suppose. Any Iranian readers (if you can even read this anymore) care to chime in on these new developments?

BoingBoing
WSJ

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Iranian government tries to silence the sound of freedom and opposition by closing the internet.

Those silly Iranian government employees. They think closing off internet access in the country because of citizen protests concerning the rigged election and “re-election” of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as well as remembrance of December 6, 1953 — the killing of three of University of Tehran students by Iranian police — will stop the truth from leaking out to the rest of the civilized world. They can silence the people within their own country, blackout Twitter and Facebook access, and overall bring internet access in the country to a crashing halt, but they can’t stop the rest of the world from spreading the word.

What’s interesting is that back in the 50′s, stopping the flow of information was much easier. With the main communication being paper or voice based, it wasn’t too hard to silence opposition. Now that something so simple as clicking the “send” button can instantly share the truth with millions of people is truly a monumental thing to grasp. The internet for better or worse has evolved into a lifeline for many around the world. A place to communicate, entertain, and inspire.

The Iranian government’s crackdown may leave them feeling like they are in control, that they can continue their oppressive politics and archaic ways. Little do they know that they are not in control. They are a dying breed. The internet and the voice of the people punished for voicing their opinions and feelings will spread the truth louder than any government crackdown can silence, faster than any bullet can travel and further than any decree can clame rule.

Go ahead and Protest. Give them hell.

Cnet

Following protests…Iran again doing the ‘ol blocksie on the internet thing…again

Live in Iran today? Use Gmail or Yahoo. At least concerning the latter, who doesn’t? If you fulfill both requirements however, chances are you’re beginning to notice (if you haven’t already) that Gmail and Yahoo (as well as many other English language sites) have been given the ‘ol heave ho from the digital pipes flowing in and out of Iran. The latest crackdown appears to be a signal that another wave of arrests and oppressive government control is about to be unleashed. Also of interest, news agencies have received word from the National Security Council to NOT publish anything concerning fraud, opposition, or Musavi. While we all know censorship is bad and only increases those trying to get around it, it seems the people in power just don’t quite get that. As usual with such “sensitive” issues, RT away.

Slashdot < Reddit

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