Iran Protesters Using Tech To Skirt Curbs

Turning To Twitter, Facebook, Other Means To Get Around Gov't. Clampdown

(CBS)  The Iranian government is trying to control the flow of information among protesters of the supposed results of that nation's presidential election, and to and from news organizations.

But, reports CBS News Science and Technology Correspondent Daniel Sieberg, Tehran is having difficulty stopping citizens from using technology to report what's happening, express outrage and get people out to opposition rallies.

There are reports citizens in Tehran have no access to text messaging via cell phones, and opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi's Web site has been down.

But Sieberg combed Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and photo-sharing site Flickr, and found that those opposing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad refusing to be silenced.

"Against all odds," says Sieberg, "they're taking their voices to the Internet and seem to be announcing, 'The revolution will be blogged." '

"Shame on them that they think they can fool us," said one post. "Where's my vote? Really, where's my vote?" asked another.

Moments after Ahmadinejad declared victory in Iran, protestors flooded the streets of the capital.

They'd mobilized using the latest digital technology on Twitter and Facebook, Sieberg points out, while adding that there is still "no definitive way to verify the authenticity or accuracy of these reports."

"On the street level," says Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council, "people are asking themselves, 'What's going on. What does the candidate want us to do?' Well, you go to Facebook and you check what is the latest status line of your candidate, and from there they could find out what was actually taking place."

Twitter lit up with posts like this at 8:32 a.m local time Saturday: "Reports of gun shots in Fatemi Square."

Even with many Web sites down, says Sieberg, supporters of Mousavi found a way to send this tweet at 3:44 p.m. Saturday: "All Internet and mobile networks are cut. We ask everyone in Tehran to go onto their rooftops and shout 'Alaho Akbar' in protest."

"It's a tremendously skillful, talented, and Internet-savvy population in Iran," Parsi observed.

Protest videos and photos appeared on YouTube and Flickr.

Mousavi backers implored followers to declare, 'Death to dictator," on Facebook at 11:38 a.m. Sunday.

The latest tweet from Mousavi supporters called for street protests today at 4 p.m. local time, roughly 20 minutes from when Sieberg's piece aired on The Early Show.

A tweet from Monday morning, claiming to be from an Iranian student, says of Monday's planned protest, "It's worth taking the risk. We're going. I won't be able to update until I'm back. Again, thanks for your support and wish us luck."

THESE WEB PAGES HAVE THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFO:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/mousavi1388

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/Mousavi1388

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/mousavi1388

[armyoftwelve]

I've never heard of a curb skirt??? That must be the iranian equivalent of a mini-skirt....except that the curb skirt actually touches the curb (ground)

: )

[sam-kiley]

bonjour
c'est triste et malheureux d'en arriver a une telle violence, protester dans le calme aurait évité la perte de vies humaines,
au revoir

[yermamma]

Oh look at the sore loser liberals are going to throw a hissy fit/
Posted by mrs_trepidatious at 5:47 AM : Jun 15, 2009

You're not very bright are you? It isn't a matter of "sore loser liberals" as your pathetic knowledge of current events suggests. Please... read a paper, watch the news, pry yourself away from party thinking and think for yourself, then come back and post something intelligent for a change.

[debinok1]

Why is Obama silent???? Why is he not siding with the progressives? His silence is giving support to the radicals.
Posted by notblue

His silence is exactly what is needed right now. Ahmadinejad has repeated many times that the western influence is the cause of this. For Obama to speak out in any way only supports that. This must be settled in Iran, for Iran. Outside influences must remain out of it.

[notblue]

Why is Obama silent???? Why is he not siding with the progressives? His silence is giving support to the radicals.

[notblue]

lovegetpeace, the year is 2009, just thought you should know.

[debinok1]

It was amazing over the weekend watching twitter go live with this. Reports came through of the police looking for satelite link ups, people had to disconnect for hours at a time as their neighborhoods were searched. Photos and videos came through showing the violence these people were being subjected to and even showed their compassion to their fellow citizens, when a police officer was knocked from his motorcycle and the motorcycle was set on fire, when the officer surrendered they shuffled him off the streets away from the other officers and to safety. People on this morning talked of black eyes, busted faces and sore mid sections after being beaten by the police, but said they would continue the fight until their votes were counted. Reports even came through about ballot boxes that had been shoved on trucks and hauled away to be burned before the votes in them could be counted.

[lovegetpeace]

Apparently some of these people take their democracy seriously. We should only have done as much after the rigged U.S. 2000 election here.

And no, I won't stop talking about it. Injustice should not be forgotten.
Posted by taxchurches at 6:11 AM : Jun 15, 2009

The world does not understand how Al Gore won the Popular Vote but lost the election of 2000. Our Electoral system is a total joke.

[lovegetpeace]

Progressives tired of the Mosques ruling over them.
Posted by South-of-Heaven at 5:09 AM : Jun 15, 2009

Progressives paying the huge cost of the American CIA replacing their freely elected Leaders with the Shah of Iran in the late 1950s.

[lovegetpeace]

If President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stole the election, then this is like the American CIA replacing a freely elected government with the Shah of Iran in the late 1950s.

[taxchurches]

Apparently some of these people take their democracy seriously. We should only have done as much after the rigged U.S. 2000 election here.

And no, I won't stop talking about it. Injustice should not be forgotten.

[mrs_trepidatious]

Oh look at the sore loser liberals are going to throw a hissy fit/

[South-of-Heaven]

Progressives tired of the Mosques ruling over them.

[skyk-2009]

There is no way the power that be in Iran can stop this... LOL These folks have watched us elect our New President and are using the SAME method in their drive to overcome. I wish them well.