News
Souped-up VPNs play 'cat and mouse' game with Iran censors
1+ hour, 46+ min ago (640+ words) Iranians are managing to get online during the current war with the US and Israel despite drastic censorship and frequent blackouts, throwing the spotlight on to providers of tools such as VPNs (virtual private networks). AFP asked Adam Fisk, head…...
How Iranians are communicating through internet blackout
1+ week, 3+ hour ago (653+ words) Iran's latest internet blackout has lasted more than 14 days, connectivity monitor Netblocks said Friday. The nature of the limits on internet activity shows "this is a government-imposed measure" and not the result of damage from US and Israeli airstrikes, Netblocks…...
US satellite firm extends Middle East image delay
1+ week, 2+ day ago (415+ words) American firm Planet Labs PBC on Tuesday said it now imposes a two-week delay for access to its satellite images of the Middle East because of the US-Israeli war against Iran. Both major US satellite firms, Planet and Vantor, now…...
From looms to laptops, Afghan women lose lifeline in Taliban internet ban
5+ mon, 3+ week ago (487+ words) KABUL (Reuters) -In a dim home used as a small business in Afghanistan, women bent over bright cloth use needles to form intricate embroidery. But their fibre-optic network in Kandahar - their primary link to buyers - has now gone dark. Local…...
Telegram's Durov says Spanish social media plans weaponise safety
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (434+ words) MADRID, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Telegram founder Pavel Durov on Wednesday joined Elon Musk in publicly criticising plans by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to ban social media access for under 16s and to prosecute executives for hate speech on their platforms. Durov…...
Greece to soon announce social media ban for children under 15, government source says
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (98+ words) Greece to soon announce social media ban for children under 15, government source says'AL-Monitor Greece to soon announce social media ban for children under 15, government source says ATHENS, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Greece is "very close" to announcing a social media ban for…...
Iran's internet blackout enters third week as filtered access flickers back
1+ mon, 4+ week ago (597+ words) Iran's sweeping internet blackout has reached its 16th day and ranks as one of the world's most severe communications shutdowns on record, even as data suggests some services are coming back online sporadically, with Iranian authorities allowing limited and heavily filtered…...
Limited internet briefly returns in Iran after protest blackout
2+ mon, 2+ day ago (732+ words) Limited internet access briefly returned in Iran before dropping again, a monitor said Sunday, 10 days into a communications blackout that rights groups said aimed to mask a protest crackdown that killed thousands. Iran's president warned that an attack on the…...
Iran considers 'gradually' restoring internet after shutdown
2+ mon, 2+ day ago (650+ words) Iranian authorities have said they are considering "gradually" restoring internet access after imposing an unprecedented communications shutdown 10 days ago, which rights groups say masked a violent protest crackdown that killed thousands. Demonstrations sparked in late December by anger over economic…...
Ugandans, Iranians turn to Dorsey's messaging app Bitchat in web crackdowns
2+ mon, 6+ day ago (558+ words) By Harshita Mary Varghese, Jaspreet Singh and Aditya Soni Jan 14 (Reuters) - A little-known offline messaging app launched by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has emerged as a key lifeline for Ugandans cut off from the internet ahead of a contentious election…...