It’s widely assumed that as soon as Iran is able to fully implement its country-wide internet, that they will block all access to the outside world for its citizens. With plans currently laid to set the country on an internal system by March, 2013, the country is on the edge of going dark. Today, they blocked Google and its services in what many consider a response to the company’s YouTube property broadcasting an anti-Islamic message through the controversial video that has sent ripples around the world all week.
“Google and Gmail will be filtered throughout the country until further notice,” an official identified only by his last name, Khoramabadi, said, without giving further details.
When it all goes down and the country goes “dark”, will citizens in our outside of Iran find a way for the country to stay connected to the World Wide Web? Should there be a way? VPN access is an option but it’s risky. What penalties will citizens face if they’re caught?
This portion of the world is hurtling towards an internalization that it cannot afford. While the government might be able to hold an iron grip on its people, are they going to be able to suffer through it or will they make a stand?
