US Lawmakers Ask Tech Firms To Help Iranians With Internet
A bipartisan and bicameral group of US lawmakers have urged Google, Amazon, Meta and other tech companies to facilitate access to online tools for Iranian protesters.
A bipartisan and bicameral group of US lawmakers have urged Google, Amazon, Meta and other tech companies to facilitate access to online tools for Iranian protesters.
The move, led by Representative Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), was made on Thursday after the US Treasury Department relaxed tech restrictions for Iran last month. The letter for the call was signed by at least 10 lawmakers, including Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Representative Claudia Tenney (R-NY).
The letter, which was sent to heads of Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft and Digital Ocean, calls on the companies to "provide expeditiously and lawfully the tools Iranians need to circumvent government blockages." “As the Iranian regime continues to brutally repress those protesting for freedom, access to communications services is key,” read the letter.
All the companies work on technologies that include cloud and hosting services, messaging platforms and tools, developer and analytics tools, and access to app stores.
Frustrated with tech companies' lack of action to support the Iranians, Malinowski told Axios that “The ball is really in their court now to deploy technologies that the US government is permitting to ensure Iranians can actually communicate safely and securely.” He added, “Iranians are risking their lives, and these big companies seem to be unwilling to risk anything, and that's just wrong."
Internet restrictions and the use of anti-online censorship tools have surged in Iran since protests began in September. Iranian hardliners say restrictions will remain in place as long as street protests continue.
"A bombing in Mo'ali Abad Street in Shiraz was detected and foiled by the Revolutionary Guards intelligence," Sepah news said, without giving further details.
There is no possibility to verify IRGC's claim, as the ideological-military-business organization and also Iran's Intelligence Ministry in the past have made numerous similar claims without presenting any evidence. In most cases no public trial of suspects were held or even names released.
The IRGC-linked Fars News quoted “an informed security source in Shiraz” as saying that the remotely-controlled bomb was found and neutralized by security forces and intelligence ministry agents after the gun attack on Shahcheragh shrine.
Wednesday's shooting, which was claimed by the Islamic State (ISIS) group, killed 15 including children and injured dozens more at the Shahcheragh shrine. Officials said they had arrested a gunman who carried out the attack at the shrine. The attack took place amid widespread antigovernment protests across the country which began nearly two months ago following the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, on September 16.
The Iranian government has organized nationwide demonstrations against the shooting following Friday prayers. Funerals were also due to take place for the victims. Officials said they had arrested a gunman who carried out the attack at the shrine.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed on Thursday to retaliate against those threatening the country's security without further elaboration as to whether this meant those responsible for the attack, protesters, or both.
"We will take revenge for the blood of the martyrs of Shiraz," said Tehran Friday prayer Imam Haj Ali Akbari about the attack on the shrine.
Many Iranians did not trust the authorities or believe that ISIS was responsible for the attack. They accuse the regime of being behind the attack or orchestrating it to blame protesters at home for causing unrest and insecurity and justify harsher crackdown against opponents.
