Revolution by typewriter?

It is enough to be noted as problematic and then visit the wrong political site to be hanged in Iran. Freedom of press and speech is far more than we can expect from the regime, but it goes even further by making speaking out a crime punishable by death, with four netizens given the death penalty for the first time in 2012.

We all know how important the internet was in galvanizing the revolutionaries during the Arab Spring. Even within Iran in the 2009 election, the internet and Yahoo, in particular was vital in the organization of protests and demonstrations. With the election once again just around the corner, the internet could play a very significant role. However could is the operative word. The internet has the undoubted ability to influence the forty-five million (approx 60%) Iranian citizens online, however the government is systematically cracking down on the World Wide Web and all the freedom it has come to represent.

The regime itself is well aware of the power of the internet; the Ayatollah has his own website, twitter and perhaps most surprisingly instagram account. Moreover regime members are rumoured to dabble in the odd porn site, a crime in Iran.

However, that which it does not deny itself, it is most certainly attempting to deny its population. The Iranian government is doing all it can to influence its citizens to surf only on Iranian websites. It filters and significantly slows down access to external sites, such as Google and Yahoo, with the aim of causing Iranians to start using domestic sites simply out of frustration. In March of this year crackdowns began on using VPNs and Tor with only registered VPNs being able to be used. The government generously offers to sell VPNs however they then can of course monitor one's online activity. Now the regime is moving one step further with plans to implement an internal Iranian internet, much like an intranet. A system such as this already exists in North Korea, which itself is not exactly the most shining example for human rights. This move has been in the works for a while, although it is highly concerning that it might go into effect so close to the election.

In keeping with the theme we have become so used to seeing in Iran, the regime chooses rather to veil its citizens of all opportunity. Internally millions are being cut off to vital information before the elections, while externally it still maintains its charade of democracy. Will Iranian citizens be able to overcome the internet 'roadblocks' to organize effective opposition? Can there be a revolution organized by a typewriter? Share your thoughts below...