Iran cuts off access to major websites

Iran has blocked access to Gmail, Hotmail, Facebook and other major websites inside the country, according to various reports.

“This appears to be another step toward creating a firewall in Iran to block access to the global Internet. Some have expressed concern this heralds the creation of a National Internet that would keep Iranian citizens within a walled-off domestic network much like an office Internet," Computer & Communications Industry Association President & CEO Ed Black said.

“While this may end up being a short term block to Internet freedom, our hope is that it will raise awareness about the threats to citizens and the Internet ecosystem when a government takes unilateral action to control Internet communication.”

According to CNET, some Iranians are still able to get around the government firewall by using proxy servers. The Iranian government is reportedly denying the services are blocked.

Censorship of the Internet has risen in profile as a diplomatic issue under the Obama administration, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton repeatedly decrying countries that control what its citizens can access online.

Black's statement also referenced the Egypt's crackdown on the Internet last year, which preceded the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak and the dissolution of the Egyptian government.

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