Most people are aware that the Iranian government has been severely curtailing access to media and the internet among its citizens in response to the current crisis. But now it appears that Iranian-Americans like myself are also getting swept up in the recent cyber lockdown. It all began a few weeks ago when the government of Iran, in advance of the Iranian Presidential elections, implemented a shut down of Facebook for all its users. Ahmadinejad's rival, Mousavi, had garnered nearly 40,000 supporters on Facebook and other social networking arenas.
Although I am based in New York, a US citizen, and did not vote in the Iranian elections, last week, I was removed from the site as well. The last time I used Facebook was on Tuesday evening, June 9th. Two days before the Iranian election, on the morning of Wednesday June 10, I attempted to log-on, but was informed that my account was disabled. I sent a message to disabled@facebook.com at 9:18am that morning. I received an automatic response stating they would look into this situation and get back. No response. I sent three more messages.
That afternoon, I called the number listed for Facebook in Palo Alto, California. I left a message. No response. I emailed Facebook the next morning and sent another message. Then I called the press section of Facebook. I left them a message and sent an email. Nothing. So, I decided to set up a new account. Within minutes, three Mousavi supporters asked to be my friend and one other Iranian complimented me on a recent appearance that afternoon on CNN International. In that appearance I criticized Ahmadinejad's regime for the violent attacks on demonstrators and rigid rules on the national and foreign media.
A Facebook spokesperson addressed the shut down this week:
"Facebook has not been able to get to the bottom of what is affecting its services. We have heard reports that users in Iran are having difficulties accessing Facebook. This is disappointing, especially at a time when citizens are turning to the Internet as a source of information about the recent election. It is always a shame when a country’s cultural and political concerns lead to limits being placed on the opportunity for sharing and expression that the Internet provides."(Times of London, June 14 2009)
CBS news reported this morning "There are signs censorship by Iran's government is spreading and becoming more effective."
Could this mean I was shut off for being outspoken?
No one will deny that in response to allegations of a rigged election, the Iranian government has swiftly acted to remove all opposition Web sites and tried to block or slow down social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Reporters Without Borders, a press freedom watch dog group I work with, issued several statements about Facebook accounts being shut down in Iran from May 27 through the elections and now, in the days following the election.
If you try to find me on Facebook, you will see one listing with no photo. This is an old account that I set up when at the United Nations that I never used, and it is attached to an email address that is no longer active. Significantly I never used that account to communicate with anyone in the Iranian community and perhaps that is why it hasn’t been deactivated.
This morning, I logged on—and was informed that the new account I tried to set up on the 14th was disabled as well.
Mobile platforms have been an essential tool in documenting government-sponsored violence. These platforms have provided images and information about the killings of demonstrators by Iranian police, the beatings of university students, and the confiscation of students’ property.
The Associated Press reported yesterday that restrictions imposed by the government made such social-networking sites as Twitter and Flickr more prominent –but what about Facebook? Could Facebook be conspiring with the Islamic Republic of Iran to silence Iranian-American voices? Who exactly made the decision to shut my account down? And why? Assuming the Iranian government has had something to do with the closing of my account, how could it have accomplished this without Facebook’s complicity?
Reporters Without Borders, said in a statement today issued this week: "The blocking of access to foreign news media has been stepped up. In addition to the blocking of the BBC’s website, the Farsi-language satellite broadcasts of the Voice of America and BBC — which are very popular in Iran.."
Let Facebook know you don't support clamping down on US citizens’ voices—especially Iranian-Americans who want change:
Facebook, Inc.
471 Emerson St.
Palo Alto, CA 94301-1605
Phone: 650-543-4800, (650) 853-1300
Fax: 650-543-4801
http://www.facebook.com
A response was received FINALLY sent by Facebook on Thursday afternoon, hours after the publishing of this article on TRNS and other websites:
The Facebook Team (appeals+ddyo2wy@facebook.com)
|
Thu 6/18/09 9:08 PM |
tdowlats@hotmail.com |
Hi Tala,
We sincerely apologize for our delayed response.
Facebook has automated systems in place to block behavior that other users may find annoying or abusive.
These systems restrict the rate at which you can use certain features on the site.
Your account was disabled after being flagged by one of these systems.
However, after reviewing your situation, we have reactivated your account,
and you should now be able to log in. Once logged in, please slow down
the rate at which you send friend requests.
Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Thanks for your understanding,
JerryUser OperationsFacebook