Iranian government blocking all online activity except gaming

by Majed Athab { Jun 26th 2009 at 2:00AM }

The internet has played a big part in the drama of Iran's recent presidential elections, disseminating information about the re-election of controversial leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad faster than most major news outlets. Fearful of this powerful resource fueling further unrest, the Iranian government has cut off all online activity -- all but gaming.

Apparently, Ahmadinejad's government is not afraid of protesters communicating via World of Warcraft to plan the next protest rally, as noted by Security to the Core and GamePolitics. Also, Ahmadinejad has not yet downloaded Prince of Persia's Epilogue and is just dying to know how it all ends.

Tags: iran, online, online-gaming, politics

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Timett @ Jun 26th 2009 2:06AM

Too bad XBox360 Twitter/Facebook isn't up yet. That could be a hell of a loophole!

Evan @ Jun 26th 2009 2:50AM

It would likely connect via HTTP/HTTPS. These protocols are blocked, from what I can tell.

THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Jun 26th 2009 12:47PM

Our enemy dictatorship is online! Seriously, this is so fucked. If there is a way to contact protestors we could still relay messages and I believe you can swap photos now on 360, right?

Lonin @ Jun 26th 2009 2:08AM

Keep it classy

Cosmo (formerly Chin-Poh) @ Jun 26th 2009 2:10AM

With your username, why am I not surprised?

tmacairjordan87 @ Jun 26th 2009 2:15AM

Why don't you tell us how you REALLY feel

The Dark Wayne @ Jun 26th 2009 2:15AM

Camel jockey? what's wrong with that. Camel Racing is a fine sport

Roto13 @ Jun 26th 2009 2:16AM

"Ahmadinejad has not yet downloaded Prince of Persia's Epilogue and is just dying to know how it all ends."

"WHAT? WHO THE HELL ARE THESE PEOPLE! 'PRINCE OF PERSIA' MY HAIRY ASS! FUCKING MALLRATS! DEATH TO AMERICA!"

Roto13 @ Jun 26th 2009 11:13AM

Is it the "Death to America" part? Because if you people think no Iranian, especially that one in particular, has ever shouted "Death to America," you're delusional.

WINterfang @ Jun 26th 2009 11:26AM

And some rednecks has shout Kill all the gays!! That doesn't mean all America thinks like that.

Roto13 @ Jun 26th 2009 11:26AM

Did you read my comment?

Arich @ Jun 26th 2009 12:46PM

Actually I think they just mostly think Americans are stupid and fat like the rest of the world.

ill trooper @ Jun 26th 2009 1:25PM

Arich, your mediocre sentence structure has a dangling participle that I'd appreciate you clearing up: did you mean "the rest of the world is stupid and fat," or were you asserting that "like the rest of the world, they think Americans are stupid and fat"?

signed,

Curious American

Brucie_K @ Jun 26th 2009 5:32PM

Actually, YOU are the one who's delusional if you think all Iranian are anti-American.

Enjoy being brainwashed by the news.

Roto13 @ Jun 26th 2009 8:13PM

Oh, look, another one who needs to read my fucking comment. And maybe the Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Wikipedia article. Nowhere did I say that he was representative of all Iranians.

Olicon @ Jun 26th 2009 2:18AM

Unfortunately, bread and circuses might not work when circuses mainly put on plays against the government.

I can sympathize with the Iranian quite a lot, coming from Thailand which just went through this thing at the beginning of the year. If there wasn't any election fraud, the government would have shown it as a result of an investigation already. I pray that at least the violence can settle soon, and peaceful process can be initiated to solve the problem.

Bubbameister33 @ Jun 26th 2009 2:19AM

I seriously hope you get a dictionary.

Kamizar @ Jun 26th 2009 2:27AM

Better make some green wearing Iranian friends.

Ted @ Jun 26th 2009 2:46AM

Download tor: http://www.torproject.org/

Configure it to run as an exit node

Help Iran

???

Profit

Shiaoran @ Jun 26th 2009 2:53AM

Block everything! Except games!

If you can't love the guy after that, I don't know what would make you :P

In A World (XBL) @ Jun 26th 2009 5:00AM

"I don't know what would make you" ... other than a gun to your head.

the_thriller @ Jun 26th 2009 2:54AM

Uh...

Lone Starr @ Jun 26th 2009 2:57AM

He knows that if gamers couldn't game, he would be dealing with a combat-hardened threat of incalculable proportions.

That, or he knows gamers rarely get off their lazy asses.

ArchiGamer @ Jun 26th 2009 2:59AM

"Also, Ahmadinejad has not yet downloaded Prince of Persia's Epilogue and is just dying to know how it all ends."

The Kitty-Dragon dies!

...oh, wait, wrong game.

ArchiGamer @ Jun 26th 2009 3:02AM

Grammar and spelling, now all you need is a comment that sounds offensive and you got a trifecta of idiocy. Oh wait...

ArchiGamer @ Jun 26th 2009 3:03AM

IGNORE THIS!!

DAMN COMMENT SYSTEM!!!

Rein @ Jun 26th 2009 3:20AM

I will never ignore it! Mwahahahahahaha!

P @ Jun 26th 2009 3:30AM

Joystiq: GOTCHA BITCH!

ArchiGamer @ Jun 26th 2009 3:04AM

Grammar and spelling, now all you need is a comment that sounds offensive and you got a trifecta of idiocy. Oh wait...

WREturns @ Jun 26th 2009 3:24AM

Leave him alone guys! He's got a hot night of gaming planned with Sean Penn.

MasterD @ Jun 26th 2009 4:07AM

Ahmadinejad can go to hell and same goes to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Please show your support for Iran and their protest by not recognizing this idiot as the president. He has forced Basiji to shoot his own people. What type of a government does that? And I don't give a rats ass that he hasn't blocked communication via games.

PS: What does the last sentence of the article have to do with anything? o.O

John Z @ Jun 26th 2009 4:40AM

Iran used to be called Persia. That is why the sentence is lolfuni.

MasterD @ Jun 26th 2009 10:17PM

Yes, I think I would know that Iran used to be called Persia, during the time of Cyrus the Great.

WREturns @ Jun 26th 2009 3:26AM

Regardless how you feel about any situation in the middle east, isn't it pretty apparent that the world would be a much better place without Ahmadinejad in it?

avan @ Jun 26th 2009 4:14AM

Congrats to Ahmadinejad on his re-election!!

BLee @ Jun 26th 2009 4:16AM

Who loves living in a free country? this guy. (me)

justshovejayohbe @ Jun 26th 2009 4:43AM

I saw on 60 Minutes that the Iranians have game companies that rip off counter-strike except they make the good guys Palestinians and the bad guys Israelis

MasterD @ Jun 26th 2009 10:17PM

Stop talking, you're a racist POS. If you had any knowledge, you would know that the only Iranians that hate Israel is the Iranian government.

Shiaoran @ Jun 26th 2009 5:03AM

That would be what they'd do for you to worship the guy, which is required of every iranian citizen :P

dolapo10 @ Jun 26th 2009 5:59AM

They said they don't want any ties with the western world, yet they are playing Xbox, ps3 etc feel sorry for those who suffer under his regime

LaughingTarget @ Jun 26th 2009 7:23AM

Could have been worse, he could have referred to them as individuals of sub Saharan African descent whom are composed entirely of finely ground silicate deposits.

sc00by_y00 @ Jun 26th 2009 7:24AM

Your missing a word in the photo caption:

I'd like to still PRETEND to be president in Second life too.

Bowser Rogozhin: Death of a Ladies Man @ Jun 26th 2009 8:19AM

I think that administration realises how unimportant gaming is in the big scheme of things. Gaming is yet another distraction, and, if I have their thinking pegged correctly, distractions could cool some of the heat generated from the latest sham election in the middle east. They're probably covertly encouraging gaming though lax controls at internet cafes and the like. A simple but cunning scheme.