Iran Elections: Revolutionary Guard Crackdown on Social Media

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard has announced a crackdown on social media and websites being used by protesters after the Iran elections. The new threat comes after days of social media platforms such as Twitter and SMS (text messaging through cell phones) being used by Iranian protesters to coordinate with each other and broadcast events occuring inside Iran outside to the rest of the world.

The Iranian government has also accused protesters and social media of being influenced by American and British interference, though U.S. President Barack Obama has been reserved in his responses to date.

In defiance of earlier warnings prior to the announcement, protesters have continued coordinating protests and meeting in rallies, showing support for reformist candidate and former Iranian prime minister Mir Hossein Mousavi. Supporters are maintaining the view that the election, which concluded with approximately two-thirds of the vote going to hardline incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was rigged. At least eight people have been killed to date, with videos of protests and shootings broadcast through sites such as Youtube.