Web Weapons Connect A Revolution In Iran

(CBS)  The Iranian government's crackdown on the media - aimed at choking off protests - has been defeated by computer keystrokes.

The Internet is awash with anger, fueled by the disputed election, reports CBS News correspondent Bob Orr.

Gunshots can be heard in a YouTube video, which shows an injured protestor being carried to safety.

On the social networking site Facebook, where Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei appears to have his own page, there is a scene with demonstrators yelling at police.

But the frontline in this cyber-driven revolt may be Twitter where anonymous protestors and sympathizers are trading short messages.

"This is the first step," one blogger wrote. "We stop Khamenei and Ahmadin."

Another echoed a warning from opposition leader Mousavi, writing: "People will howl for the innocent killed on Monday."

The impact of Twitter has not been lost on the U.S. State Department, which called on the company to defer maintenance to allow the Web site to stay up.

"We promote the right of free expression," said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. "I wouldn't know a twitter from a tweeter but apparently it is very important."

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Computer forensics expert Gary Warner says he has found evidence that opposition forces are actually using Twitter to do more than pass information.

One can see an actual cyberattack against Iranian government Web sites triggered by a mouse click on a link posted on Twitter.

"Sitting in your living room or your office in the United States you can actually directly involve yourself in the conflict that's going on in Iran," Warner said.

The Iranian government is responding by taking down opposition Web sites and restricting Internet access. Protestors claim some computer equipment has been smashed.

It's impossible to know exactly what is going on in Iran but - accurate or not - information still flows.

"It's exceptionally difficult for a government to lock down communications in this day and age with regard to technology adoption," said CBS News cyberterrorism consultant Paul Kurtz.

Cyber experts say government officials cannot shut down all communications because their supporters use the same tools and they also want to know what opponents are saying. But there are signs tonight Iran's censorship is spreading and becoming more effective.

[artorus]

I wonder if the Iranian Maoists will seize this opportunity.

[pepperwood2]

"We promote the right of free expression," said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. "I wouldn't know a twitter from a tweeter but apparently it is very important. It is also very important to know a layer from a liar "

My but our SOS is so smart!

[vielmann]

Islamic fundamentalism in Iran may well be receiving a death blow.

[ClaudiaW2010]

The videos being shown of crowds of thousands and thousands of people moving down the streets of Iran are so moving to watch. The unity of the people is a beautiful thing to witness.

[WayAround]

From Fox News today: "A written exam administered by the Pentagon labels 'protests' as a form of 'low-level terrorism'."

[pensacola8-2009]

I recall 25 years ago when China had their Tienamen Square protest that ended one phase in Chinese life, but began another. I see this event in Iran doing the same thing. Iranian citizens are will find a way to disempower their clerics peacefully, as a matter of preference. They are not a throw-away culture as their counterparts in the USA.

[KierraSinclaire]

I think the time for the people of Iran to rid their leadership of Clerics and run their country in accordance to the real world is long overdue.

[wyodutch]

What you think really doesn't matter. America and Britain strangled Iranian democracy in it's crib back in 1952 and the blowback from the Iranian people culminated in the seizure of our embassy 20 years later.
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Iran is an independent nation. For god's sakes, let's stop meddling in their affairs and let the Iranian people sort things out.