Latest posts by Mahsa Alimardani
New Research: Iran is Using ‘Intelligent’ Censorship on Instagram
Political pages are accessible, but Justin Bieber and the Kardashians are blocked. Saddled with a censorship regime that is both exhaustive and ineffective, Iranian authorities are experimenting with “intelligent” filtering.
Iran's Leading Women's Magazine Suspended After Covering Cohabitation Outside of Marriage
Managing editor Shahla Sherkat says she's hopeful she can convince the court to allow publication to resume. Iran’s Press Oversight Committee suspended Zanan-e Emrooz, reportedly for writing about "white marriages."
The Elephant at the Global Conference for Cyberspace
Last week, the Dutch capital of government, the Hague hosted “Cyberspace Week”, an international event intended to prioritize discussions about security, safety, and Internet policy at large. All the while, a giant blow-up elephant stood nearby in the city's Plein neighbourhood, a cheeky symbol of the giant “elephant in the room” that is mass...
Iran's Minister of ICT Suggests Instagram Will Not Be (Completely) Blocked Until an Alternative Is Found
Iran's leading reformist newspaper, Shargh, ran an article this past Sunday entitled: “The promises of the Minister of ICT to clear the problems of mobile social media.” The focus of Iran's Minister of Information and Communication Technology Mahmoud Vaezi was the filtering status of popular mobile applications, with a particular...
Is Global Voices Blocked in Iran? Yes and No.
Globalvoicesonline.org is now blocked in Iran. But you can outsmart these Internet filters and access our site by adding "https://" to the beginning of the URL. What's up with that?
Iranian Television Producer Mostafa Azizi is Jailed in Iran's Evin Prison
Mostafa Azizi, an Iranian television producer and author, was arrested last month when he tried to repatriate to Iran from Canada.
Iran Wants to Befriend Google
Google is welcome in Iran, says a government official, as long as it respects 'cultural conditions'.
Iran Reacts to the Latest Snowden Leak on SIM Card Hacks
Iran's Minister of Information and Communication Technologies told Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency that he urges all state employees and ordinary Iranians to rely on their landlines for most communications.
Iranian Women's Rights Advocate Mahdieh Golroo Released From Jail
Last October, a wave of acid attacks against women created a public uproar in Iran. When police failed to respond, protests and online campaigns against government inaction swept the nation.
WhatsApp, Line and Tango in Jeopardy in Iran, As President and Judiciary Clash
Culture Minister Ali Jannati refused to say if the government would implement the ban on three messaging services. They currently remain accessible to Iranians.
Morehshin Allahyari's Art on Iranian Censorship Will Soon Be Out of This World
Iran’s censored Internet is a theme that features prominently in Morehshin Allahyari's art, some of which will soon be headed to outer space as part of the Forever Now project.
The Story Behind Iran's Censorship Redirect Page
When Internet users in Iran try to access a blocked website, they're taken to www.peyvandha.ir. The page has changed throughout the years, reflecting the government's evolving approach to censorship.
#FreeSaeed: An Iranian Web Developer's Sixth Year in Prison
Saeed Malekpour was originally sentenced to death as a "corrupter of the earth" for his open source software that others used to download pornographic images.
Cute Cat Theory in Action: Despite Drought, Iranian Users Take the Ice Bucket Challenge
Are Iranians really more consumed by Facebook likes and online attention than they are with tangible problems within their own country? If so, they're not alone.
Nearly 70% of Young Iranians Use Illegal Internet Circumvention Tools
According to Iran’s list of Computer Crimes, the distribution of both circumvention technology and instructions to use such tools are both illegal. Violating these laws can result in severe punishment.
The Iranian Government is Blocking Unregistered News Sites
Iranian news sites that do comply with registration requirements will receive a government subsidy.
Iranian Minister Says Government ‘Never Promised’ to End Web Censorship
ICT Minister Vaezi's words contradict President Hassan Rouhani's pledge to lift bans on popular social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.
Iran Vows to Block All “Unlicensed” Websites
On the day to recognize journalists, Iran's Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance announced that all news websites must henceforth obtain a state license -- or face automatic censorship.
Iran's Internet Users Outsmart Government in Cat-and-Mouse Censorship Game
The Iranian government periodically releases new filtering rules intended to block Tor traffic, to which the Tor community typically responds with a same-day antidote for the block.
Fear, Love and Iran's Favorite Internet Enemy (it's Facebook)
On July 13, eight young Iranians were dealt long prison sentences for their activities on Facebook. Activists both in and outside the country know little more about the case.
