Community Quote by Ilan Berman
“Social media is important, but it does not bring down governments. Governments can shut down the Internet. Governments can control media access. If they do what the Tunisians did and try and negotiate with the opposition, then the media's still open, the international community can learn what's happening in the country, and then that can provide inspiration. But in mid-2009, the Iranian regime just shut down the Internet. Facebook went dark. Twitter went dark. BBC Persian, Voice of America, Persian News Network all went dark. That was it.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Discussing Iranian Internet shutdown, 2009
Governments can silence digital communication, limiting information flow and global awareness.
In simple terms: Governments can block internet.
Key Takeaway
Support free, resilient communication channels.
Themes
censorship
political power
media control
Mood
concerned
determined
Type
political
activist
When to use this quote
- activism
- journalism
- policy advocacy
Key Concepts
authoritarianism
digital rights
information flow
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies safeguard online speech?
- What alternatives exist during shutdowns?
A Different Perspective
Internet shutdowns can be circumvented with tech, but risks remain.
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