I’m no politics expert, and I’m not here to break down the Iranian elections themselves. But it’s worth taking a minute to look at how protestors have been using social media—especially Twitter.
The government quickly cracked down on peaceful protests, even opening fire on those opposing Ahmadinejad. At first, international media still had some access, but that didn’t last long—foreign journalists were banned from covering the protests. In short: things are messy, and we’re being kept in the dark.
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That’s where social media stepped in. It’s starting to pick up the slack where traditional media can’t. Tons of Iranians have been tweeting, sharing photos and videos on Flickr and YouTube, and posting updates on Facebook. It’s now almost impossible for the authorities to fully control what gets out—people are using these platforms as alternative channels to tell their story.
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But beyond just spreading the word, these tools are now being used to organize. Pro-Moussavi protestors are using Twitter and Google Maps to track gathering spots or the movement of military forces. Expect more of these mashups to pop up soon.
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Iran may not be a democracy yet—but clearly, people have found a new way to speak up. And we should be listening. To follow things in real time, keep an eye on #IranElection.
Update: Twitter is now a main tool for news, organizing, and coordination.
Authorities are trying to block access, blacklist IPs, and shut things down—but the community is responding with smart tactics:
- Mass profile changes: Users are being encouraged to change their Twitter location to Tehran and timezone to GMT +3:30, as a way to protect real Iranian users in the crowd.
- DDoS attacks: Denial-of-service attacks are being launched to overload Iranian government servers. There are dozens of sites supporting these efforts.
Also worth reading: the Cyberwar Guide for Iran Elections:
The goal is to help people participate in the protests via Twitter.
From Boing Boing:
- Don’t share proxy IPs publicly—especially not with the #iranelection hashtag. The regime is watching and will shut them down. DM them privately to @stopAhmadi or @iran09.
- Stick to the right hashtags: #iranelection and #gr88 are the ones Iranian bloggers actually use. Adding more just dilutes the stream.
- Keep your BS filter on—there are fake protestor accounts spreading misinformation. Don’t retweet without checking the source.
- Protect real bloggers—change your Twitter settings (location: Tehran, timezone: GMT +3:30) to hide them in the crowd.
- Don’t blow people’s cover—if you know a legit source, don’t reveal their name or location. Share their info quietly and safely. People are risking their lives.
For an excellent running commentary, check out Live-Tweeting the Revolution.