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Tweets and Bullets

June 19, 2009
The clamp-down on foreign media coverage following post-election protests in Iran has called attention to the role of the Internet and social networking sites as a counter to government-sponsored censorship.  In the editorial, "Tear Down this Cyberwall!" Nicholas Kristof describes how software developed in China is being used by Iranians who are trying to access blocked websites. Kristof's blog post, "Iran: Helping Tweets Stand up to Bullets" explains how software that helps citizens evade government-sponsored firewalls can serve as a tool for democracy-building and the protection of human rights. To understand how governments are able to censor their citizens' access to online media, he suggests that readers compare information available on American-based Google to the information available on China's version of Google, and he provides instructions on how to do so.


Discussion Questions: 
  • The software Freegate, developed in China, helps citizens in repressive countries access blocked websites. After the Iranian government blocked certain websites, the software received more than 200 million hits from Iran. How can you explain this fact? Why would the site receive so many hits from Iran, more than ever before? What does this reveal about the power of governments to repress information and the ability of people to access information?
  • Kristof writes, "Still, it does make a difference when people inside closed regimes get access to information - which is why dictatorships make such efforts to block comprehensive Internet access." What difference can it make when people "inside closed regimes" can freely access the Internet?  Why do you think governments might try to block comprehensive Internet access?
  • Throughout history, governments have tried to control and suppress information. How has the Internet changed the ability of governments to control the information that flows into and out of their borders? How do you think this development helps strengthen or weaken democracy and human rights?
  • Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers." According to the UDHR, is open-access to the Internet a human right that should be protected?  Under any conditions would it be appropriate for a government to block its citizens' access to information on the Internet?
  • What power does the Internet provide to people who fear government persecution?

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