Standing with free Iran

As anyone who has been following the progress of the Iranian elections and consequent protests on Twitter knows by now, there is an awful lot of information and misinformation and it’s difficult to determine what is real and what is not.  The problem is that the only people who really know what is going on are those on the ground, on the streets, in Iran.  As we’ve seen over the past few days we can’t even trust the major news networks to report verified and accurate information.  Partly because (conspiracy theory or not) news networks by nature produce sensationalist articles in their daily race for ratings, and partly because with no journalists allowed in Iran (and those who were there being since ejected) they are in exactly the same boat as we are.  The only news you can trust is that which has come from reliable sources on the inside, of which there are few.  With the amount of propaganda being broadcast on Iranian television, radio, and printed in newspapers, even those in the thick of the action don’t have the whole picture.

So who can we trust?

Although there are a few reliable sources, the answer to this question is still cloudy, and you still can’t believe everything you read.  However  there are efforts such as those on the Huffington Post (read from the bottom up, and check the links at the bottom of each article for other days since June 21) and the “Green Brief” that aim to provide an account of the events since they began.

As for users on Twitter, there are genuine Iranian people in Iran posting, but they are interspersed with posts from extremists on either side, and alleged Iranian government agents which only serve to confuse and distort the picture and cause dissent on both sides of the fence.  It is important both for the safety and validity of the Iranian people that their protests remain peaceful, and that those of us on the outside do what we can to check and re-check our sources to ensure we are propagating accurate news, and to ensure that news is safe for those on the inside.

There are users both in and outside Iran who can be trusted to check and verify their sources before posting.  Among those are:

• @austinheap – sourcing and validating proxy servers for the Iranian people to circumvent government filtering and access the internet.
• @iran_translator – collating verified news reports and posting them in the Green Brief.
• @jamaldajani, @AliveInTehran, @jamez85, @change_for_iran, @iran09 and @jimsciuttoABC, @LaraABCNews – posting verified news reports from Iran.
• @void00110000 and @unscannable – sourcing trusted people outside Iran who can offer proxy servers to add to Austin’s efforts.
• @CajunTechie – sourcing proxy servers and relaying news and information into Iran.
• @iran_firstaid – posting first aid links, hints and tips for those in Iran who don’t have access to or can’t reach hospitals.

How can we ensure we are posting accurate news?

The short answer is that because of the reasons outlined above, we can’t ensure everything is accurate.  But we can limit the damage and reduce the clutter that is currently enveloping the #iran, #iranelection, #neda and #gr88 hash tags.

• Don’t assume that just because you’ve seen a bunch of people tweet and re-tweet something that it is accurate.
• Don’t assume that just because something is reported by a major news network that it is accurate.
• Verify your sources by following links and checking where they got their information from.
• Don’t assume that just because something was reported from someone in Iran that it is correct.
• If you’re not sure, then ask someone who might be.  And if you don’t know who to ask, don’t post it until you can verify it, or make a point of saying that it is unverified.
• Talk to people.  Essentially that is what Twitter is for, and we have the opportunity to group together and collectively discuss this.

How can we keep the Iranian people safe?

We may be a thousand miles away but we still have the ability to inadvertently put the Iranian people in danger.  Whether the Iranian government is watching Twitter or not, it is still a possibility.

• If you post or repost pictures from Iran, obscure the faces of the protesters.  If you can’t, then find someone you can trust who can.  If you can’t find someone, then simply don’t post them.
• Don’t post the locations of any people, demonstrations, or events.  Don’t make the task of finding the protesters easier for the Iranian government.
• Be careful with any advice you give to those on the inside.  Bear in mind that anything you suggest may put someone or their family in danger.