US Condemns Iran's Internet Blackout, Funds Israel's Gaza Cutoffs
When Iran's authorities reportedly "enforce an internet blackout" during protests, it's rightfully framed by outlets like Al Jazeera as a suppressive act. This is the playbook of authoritarian regimes, limiting dissent by limiting communication. But let's apply that same keen journalistic eye to our 'allies.' While condemning Tehran, the very same voices are silent, or even complicit, as Israel
has repeatedly imposed communication blackouts on Gaza, most notably during intense bombardments. In November 2023, and multiple times since, reports from the UN and aid organizations documented communications outages that coincided precisely with increased military operations, effectively silencing a besieged population. One might wonder if an internet blackout is only an affront to human rights
when the 'wrong' country does it. The hypocrisy is staggering: we criticize Iran for stifling information, while simultaneously funding and politically shielding nations that perform similar, if not more devastating, acts of information control and communication warfare on a civilian population they are actively bombing. Is it 'authoritarian suppression' only when it's not our strategic partner?