January 22, 2005

US companies ban Internet for Iranians, almost

UPDATES:

  • For those more interested in details, please contact Tehran-based Tech journalist, Shahram Sharif (sharif@itiran.com), who first broke the story on his blog, ITIran, and then wrote the story for the BBC Persian.
  • Ahmad Yousefi, ISNA's technical manager (ah_yousefi@yahoo.com), can also be of help.

As if being censored by the regime hasn't been painful enough, now US based hosting copmanies have started to shut down private and governmental Iranian accounts with a short notice. (Source: BBC Perisan)

The latest victim is the students news agency (ISNA) which is ordered by its host, The Planet, to leave in 48 hours with no chance for furthur negotioations.

In other similar incidents, I've heard that many registrars such as GoDaddy doesn't allow Iranians to register domain names either. (See their official press release.)

I wonder whether this is what president Bush considers standing with a nation for their freedom. Who else is using these websites other than mostly secular, freedom-loving Iranian youth?

P.S: A paragraph in the US State Departmetn's "Overview of State-Sponsored Terrorism" reads:

Terrorist Use of Information Technology

Terrorists have seized upon the worldwide practice of using information technology (IT) in daily life. They embrace IT for several reasons: it improves communication and aids organization, allows members to coordinate quickly with large numbers of followers, and provides a platform for propaganda. The Internet also allows terrorists to reach a wide audience of potential donors and recruits who may be located over a large geographic area.

In addition, terrorists are taking note of the proliferation of hacking and the use of the computer as a weapon. Extremists routinely post messages to widely accessible Web sites that call for defacing Western Internet sites and disrupting online service, for example. The widespread availability of hacking software and its anonymous and increasingly automated design make it likely that terrorists will more frequently incorporate these tools into their online activity. The appeal of such tools may increase as news media continue to sensationalize hacking.

Posted by hoder at January 22, 2005 7:59 AM

Comments
Taking down ISNA and other such acts under the pretext of "fighting terrorism" are simply part of a larger US policy of restricting access by Americans to non-American (particularly Middle Eastern) media sources. The US gov't has long sought excuses to further ensure its dominant position in the world media markets, both for economic as well as political reasons. We have already seen Iranian filmmakers barred from entering the US, and websites closed down for "supporting terrorism" etc. In 1980's the Reagan administration withdrew from United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) because UNESCO published a report which supported the idea that Third World media sources should have greater access to the First World audiences. "Many Voices, One World" was the title of a 1980 report by UNESCO. UNESCO for years had been interested in the subject of differences in communication resources between the "have" and "have not" countries of the world. An earlier work had been called the MacBride Report. UNESCO called for remedies such as relaxed rules on copyright, providing Third World countries more access to communications technology, promoting book publishing, giving satellite transponder space set aside for Third World countries, removing tariffs on newspapers from Third World countries. These suggestions threatened the US monopoly over the world media, and so the Reagan administration withdrew from UNESCO, and US media editors attacked UNESCO in their editorials as a form of "communism".
- By: mohammadi on February 2, 2005
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re: - The latest victim is the students news agency (ISNA) which is ordered by its host, The Planet, to leave in 48 hours with no chance for furthur negotioations. - It is the 29th and it looks like the site is still up - After listening to Hugh Hewitt on the radio broadcasting Iraqis voting in El Toro, CA on Friday afternoon I am convinced this world will not be the same. Freedom IS on the march and a few thugs and terrorists will not keep nations under their thumbs anymore. People want freedom and the terrorist organizations are not offering anything like it. The inconvenience of having internet service interrupted temporarily in order to keep criminals from using it for their nefarious schemes sounds better than allowing terrorists free reign to plot and set up traps. This is war against tyranny not the movies or playacting and what is at stake are peoples lives!
- By: Paul Young on January 29, 2005
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I am very happy about this news. I hope they start cracking down on all who try to play both sides.
- By: Amir on January 24, 2005
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The commentary in the BBC(persian) does not seem to be accurate. Under a US law, recently revised and updated, U.S persons (natural and legal) are "authorized to engage in all transactions necessary and ordinarily incident to the publishing and marketing of manuscripts, books, journals, and newspapers [...] in paper or electronic format", unless the parties to transaction include the the Government of Iran. Thus, considering that ISNA is an agency affiliated with the Iranian government, under the law, the Planet company, had no other option but to cease business with them. However, this does not apply to non-governmental Iranian accounts.
- By: Darius Kia on January 23, 2005
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http://forum.persiantools.com/t6421.html and other nearby links seem to suggest the reason/excuse with registerfly was credit card fraud. excerpt, """Iran Is blocked due to recent high amounts of fraud using stolen credit cards. We review each case to allow cards on a case by case basis""".
- By: Dan Brickley on January 23, 2005
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Related - earlier discussions about registerfly.com, eg. see http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?threadid=266174
- By: Dan Brickley on January 23, 2005
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Are these students the same ones who jumped into the US embassy in the late 70s? The embargo rule was set during the Clinton era, and it is so strange that they could have registered a dot-ir domain with an American hosting.
- By: Q Mars on January 23, 2005
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Godaddy official notice even has Iraq in the list of countries whom support terrorism! I thoght that is one of the reasons we went into Iraq war. What's wrong with these people?!
- By: Kaveh on January 23, 2005
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Hoder, dear, I just blogged a bomb threat from the wackos to a UK TV station. Maybe there's a connection to that. http://eclectchap.blogspot.com/
- By: button on January 22, 2005
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Well, apparently Bush DOES control what an ISP or domain registrar does with its Iranian applicants!! GoDaddy.com actively blocks the following countries from using our services due to U.S. government policies: Cuba Iran Iraq Libya North Korea Sudan Syria The U.S. Department of State has declared the governments of these states to be sponsors of international terrorism.
- By: thors on January 22, 2005
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lots of ISPs in China. what a stupid government we have
- By: G. Washington on January 22, 2005
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It's childish. What would happen is that all iranians would either ask their friends or relatives to register their domains for them (a simple change of address) or they would simply fuck the hosting company and move to a EU-based provider. It only shows the level of intelligence that is going to stand side by side Iranian people.
- By: Dara on January 22, 2005
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I think this is more likely to be a consequence of the US' more general ban on US persons (which means people and companies) engaging in any dealings whatsoever with people and companies in countries like Iran, Libya, Cuba and North Korea than a specific programme of censorship. The sanction programme is administered by the Office for Foreign Asset Control, or OFAC.
- By: Fred on January 22, 2005
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I think it may be appropriate to repost some remarks from the beloved host of A Prarie Home Companion: "It used to be a smaller world back when I was living in Lake Wobegon and I thought I had a good grasp of how things worked. A small world of helpful friendly people and if you ever needed anything you only had to ask, and if you did the work and played by the rules, you'd be okay. We grew up in a quiet little pond, protected from treachery, and that was a long time ago. My view of the world was changed by Vietnam and by the realization that reputable and intelligent men were quite willing to permit the slaughter of innocents in distant lands rather than speak the truth and endanger their own careers. This happens again and again. The knowledge of evil makes the world seem vast and incomprehensible, and so, ever since November, I've given up reading newspapers or surfing the Net, preferring to live for awhile in a small world circumscribed by St. Paul, the radio show, poetry, my own family and friends, my writing, and a little music now and then. The country is momentarily in the hands of vandals and there isn't anything I can do about it. E-mail does enormous good in combating loneliness and gloom, and so one is grateful for it, but at the moment, we're stuck in a period of drift and squalor and the Internet isn't going to change that."
- By: Will Eberle on January 22, 2005
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Uh, despite what you might think or read in the right-wing dominant *American* media, it is worse than it appears. Corporations - i.e, the management - have more intimate connections with Bush and his administration than most would like to believe. It is well documented, and there are many examples, but yes, it is more powerful than publicly thought. Sinclare and Clear Channel are only a few examples. Of course, they have every reason to want to tow line as instructed. It's "business". Human welfare is not a quantifiable concern.
- By: Jim on January 22, 2005
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interseting: "...this might be a first stage in planning to take down Iran by the US . . . Cut off communications, restrict movement outside the country, then attack...." -- Seeing as that wasn't the M.O. in Iraq, what leads you to think they'd employ it in Iran? Chrystie: "...t grieves me to see my country shutting down any news agencies..." -- Where, from the evidence above, do you deduce that "[your] country" (eupmemism: the United States government) is "shutting down" anything? It hasn't managed -- or even tried -- to shut down *Al Jazeera*, the most rancid spigot of propaganda since Goebbels' German radio. GoDaddy, et al, ought to be free to pick and choose their customers as they please. -- And there's *how many* hosting companies to choose from across the fatted earth? Hundreds?
- By: Mike Schneider on January 22, 2005
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B-m-N - Perhaps suspicion of something is not enough to justify these actions. I can suspect that you are doing something illegal. Have you never broken a law? Shall we move to take away your internet access and freedoms? You have clearly fallen for the "if I say it's terrorism, anything is justified" reasoning that the Bush administration has so successfully foisted on the public. But I suspect that this won't make you think. Your mind is made up. Also, it's typical that you hide behind anonymity in your comment. Very brave.
- By: Dave Pentecost on January 22, 2005
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"I wonder whether this is what president Bush considers standing with a nation for their freedom. Who else is using these websites other than mostly secular, freedom-loving Iranian youth?" Now why the gratuitous slur at the president? How does that statement add any information to the story? What value does it have to the reader except to expose your biases and thereby create an impression that you consider yourself to be enlighten and morally superior. The statement exposes your willingness to write conclusions that support your biases. You are unwilling to consider alternative explanations and there are many, including the concept that perhaps the companies in question no longer consider iranians to be credit worthy.
- By: Not a Yank on January 22, 2005
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Dan - Any time someone's voice is squelched I'm inclined to be miffed as most any other decent person would be. However, I'm sure the people who signed up for services were told in their conditions of service that their accounts could be terminated with little/no advance warning... blah, blah, blah. Does it suck? Yes. But, I have no idea what Geo. W. thinks about it. I'm sure it's a safe bet it was not HIS own personal idea. Corporate lawyers (and you KNOW this) have a way of stifling otherwise good ideas under the guise of risk mitigation. Could be what's going on here(?)
- By: Gerald Buckley on January 22, 2005
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There is a significant and growing level of dissent against the Iranian government within that country, and I would hate to see its ability to communicate stifled. Hopefully American ISP's are selfish and intelligent enough to tell the difference, and to act accordingly. Rather than hampering the ability for Iranian dissidents to communicate, I would hope that they would make it even easier for them.
- By: Mark R Coppock on January 22, 2005
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So some ISPs do some stupid stuff and it's President Bush's fault.. get real and get over the bush bashing.. it's really old..
- By: Bob on January 22, 2005
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Well, this is the first taste of the "democracy" they have been promising! And I say, thanks, but no thanks!!!
- By: saba on January 22, 2005
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this might be a first stage in planning to take down Iran by the US . . . Cut off communications, restrict movement outside the country, then attack.
- By: interseting on January 22, 2005
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As an older returned college student, the one thing I've been reminded of is how important our thinking is to remain critcal on all opinions, and I might add, cultural anthropology still remains one of my most favorite electives. With that said, as an American it grieves me to see my country shutting down any news agencies internet source, but especially upsets me to see students denied their freedoms. Regardless of their opinions, whether they like me or not, and vice versa, I don't see how this promotes democracy, nor does it further freedoms. Education on any levels is about being taught to utilize one's brain, as much as it promotes self-creation in thoughts. I wonder how much this will affect those younger Iran students; possibly some that wanted a taste of freedom... makes no sense. They won't turn their back on freedom. It's instinctive to want it, and a birthright to inherit it as such, so how does this embarge per say further anyone's agenda. In actuality, this certainly generates still more hatred upon us. This is very sad, very sad in deeed.
- By: Chrystie on January 22, 2005
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I wonder whether this is what president Bush considers standing with a nation for their freedom. Uh despite what that leftist Canadian media constantly tells you, Bush is neither a king or totalitarian ruler. He does not control what an ISP or domain registrar does with its Iranian applicants. Perhaps these private companies are suspicious that those persons could be engaged in terrorist activities? Just making you think
- By: B-m-N on January 22, 2005
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