Iran blocks out Google's services

Iran has announced that they blocked out Google's services, including Gmail. Some Iranians have said they've been blocked for some time after the Iranian elections, including YouTube. The anti-Islamic film may not have been the motive on this, it's Iran's new National Intranet plans.

The Iranian regime is appearing to go after HTTPS, that what makes online websites secure from hacks and malicious software that intercept data. The key here to make the Net easier for the Iranian regime to spy on its own citizens.

With Iran's National Internet, or Intranet, Iran could be cut off from the rest of the world by establishing its own private, inside network, and blocking websites on the current Internet may not matter much to the Iranian regime anymore. With an inside network, the Iranian regime can set up their sites and servers (their own search engine, email, news blog, etc.) that they approve of, and have easier control on what gets posted on their networks and systems.

Source: Ars Technica

Can Apple shut off your iPhone in remote areas?

It appears that Apple may be prepared to shut off your iPhone in certain areas, such as areas where cell phone use isn't permitted, such as schools, libraries, medical centers, just to name a few. Apple would need to deploy such technical means to render their cell phone products useless at a particular location. With the bid for control over cell phones by governments, you can bet the local, state and federal governments in the US are willing to get their hands on this Apple technology.

Google, Facebook and others join forces to create the Internet Association

Facebook, Google, Amazon and a few others have joined together to create an e-lobby called the Internet Association, that will help preserve your Internet freedoms. But whose internet freedoms are they fighting for, yours or their own?

NY judge tells Twitter to reveal identities of OWS protesters

A NY judge is demanding the Twitter disclose the identities of Occupy Wall Street protesters, otherwise it could face some legal trouble.

This comes after a protester was arrested last October during a march at the Brooklyn Bridge.

Video from Russia Today:

Congress expands spying on Americans, thanks to FISA

Thanks to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the US House is looking to expand it to include wiretapping of Americans without warrants. It's hard to say whether how many Americans will be spied on, or what will be spied on - the cell phones, Internet, etc. if this gets amended.