Telegram’s public channels have played an essential role in broadcasting information to a wide audience, while the encrypted messaging feature has served as a way to disseminate videos and pictures of the deadly clashes. Many of Iran’s anti-government protesters have been using apps like Telegram and Instagram to organize. Here's why the Iran protests are significant
AFP PHOTO / STR (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images) STR/AFP/Getty Images Students protested in a third day of demonstrations sparked by anger over Iran's economic problems, videos on social media showed, but were outnumbered by counter-demonstrators. Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are all blocked.Īlong with Telegram, Instagram was also temporarily banned on Sunday, with Iranian social media users purportedly uploading screen shots of the app not working.Īn Iranian woman raises her fist amid the smoke of tear gas at the University of Tehran during a protest driven by anger over economic problems, in the capital Tehran on December 30, 2017. There are over 47 million active social media users in Iran, with Telegram and the Facebook-owned app Instagram being the most popular in the country. While apps like Telegram and Signal are currently blocked by the Iranian authorities, WhatsApp remains fully accessible in Iran.- Pavel Durov January 2, 2018 We consider freedom of speech an undeniable human right, and would rather get blocked in a country by its authorities than limit peaceful expression of alternative opinions.” On Tuesday, in a Twitter post, Durov added that the popular messaging app Whatsapp was still “fully accessible” in Iran. In a Telegram post, Durov said, “We are proud that Telegram is used by thousands of massive opposition channels all over the world. Telegram removed at least one opposition channel citing calls for violence, but CEO Pavel Durov has refused to shut down other channels he has called peaceful.
“If Telegram manager does not respect Iranians’ demand, the application will be closed completely,” Iran’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi said on Wednesday.Ī temporary block on Telegram was first imposed on Sunday after anti-government protests throughout the country. The Iranian government has called on the messaging app Telegram to block “terrorist channels” in an effort to quell protests, according to the state-run media outlet IRIB.
0 kommentar(er)
