In the past U.S. election, social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter played a large role in spreading candidates’ messages and raising money. Indeed, recent polls reveal that 55% of American adults used the Internet to get and share information during the 2008 presidential election, and 52% of Americans with social networking profiles used those profiles for political purposes. (SEE USA Today article: http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20090416/online16_st.art.htm.) The fact that President Obama has 6.2 million supporters on Facebook must demonstrate that these social networking tools are powerful avenues for political change.
Recently, the Iranian government became aware of the force behind Facebook and the Internet and took steps to curb this power. Indeed, weeks before the presidential election, the Iranian government blocked access to Facebook and limited access to political, human rights, and news websites. President Ahmadinejad publicly stated he had nothing to do with the ban. (SEE CNN article: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/05/25/iran.ahmadinejad.facebook/) Others argue that this was the government’s attempt to force Iranians to get information from state-sponsored mediums, which tend to favor the current President.
It seems that a few moderate candidates who pose a real threat to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s reelection success have been launching successful Facebook campaign strategies to help reach Iran’s young voters. One candidate has over 5,200 Facebook supporters, and reports indicate that over 150,000 of Iran’s population have Facebook profiles.
In the end, after international public outcry, Facebook access has been restored. No one in the Iranian government is claiming responsibility for the ban or the lifting of the ban. (SEE LA Times article: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iran-facebook27-2009may27,0,5873106.story).
Talk about limiting intellectual freedom?! This is madness. And what is really crazy is that this is not the first country to do this—China and Pakistan have also filtered/restricted access during elections. How can this be considered a free election? This situation not only makes me value our current freedoms in the U.S., but it also makes me fearful. How can truly corrupt politicians be peacefully voted out of office, if these politicians are in charge of the information voters receive?
Facebook is not the first or only major web application to be banned or censored in other countries. Google has a Chinese Govt approved edited version that is accessable in China. The "Dont Be Evil" guys sold out to the real Evil guys to keep the site in function in China. Money Money Money!
ReplyDeleteIm going to go friend some Iranians and Chinese citizens now, just to stick it to those govts.
(Note: I dont really believe the Chinese Govt is "Evil", too controlling yes, but I was just playing off the ironic Google motto.)
Donna,
ReplyDeleteThis story just shows once again how repressive life is in Iran. To block access to Facebook in order to win an election shows how little freedom they have in Iran. At least they have access to Facebook once again.
Roger Barnes
Knowing this happens is important on multiple levels. It is important to understand and appreciate the freedoms that we experience, but it also is a warning. Giving up little pieces of freedom here and there can add up to losing a lot of freedom. Most importantly, taking away a freedom from others just because you do not agree to it is the first step down a very slippery slope that may end up with the loss of your own freedoms.
ReplyDelete