Iranians may be without internet on Mar. 14, the day of Iran's general legislative elections. Citing vague security concerns, the government plans on blocking private internet access for the day. Several million Iranians follow politics online, and political parties get there messages out on their websites.
The Iranian government has never completely shut down the internet completely. Less extreme restrictions in the country include:
- Download speeds over 128 kilobytes banned since 2006.
- Filters block websites and blogs that are deemed religiously or politically inappropriate.
- Many bloggers have been jailed and websites shut down.
Can you imagine an election taking place without having access to any online analysis and information? Is the integrity of the election automatically compromised?
Linea
In this day and age, any limitations on the dissemination of information or the free exchange of ideas, opinions, and analysis will compromise the integrity of a true democratic election.
1This is upsetting. I couldn't imagine.
2What a surprise. They cannot make any claims of a valid election.
3it sucks for the iranian people but its good the us. the more hardline things their government puts out there, the more likely it is that the citizens will reject that kind of thinking and someone more democratic in.
4Oh, Iran.
(Oh yeah, and in "and political parties get there messages out" I think it's "political parties get THEIR messages out")
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