US Media Discovers Internet Shutdowns Are Bad... When Iran Does It
The Hill dutifully reports on internet and phone line cuts in Tehran as protests escalate, painting a grim picture of a government suppressing dissent. (As if this is a novel tactic for nations facing unrest.) The article highlights the impact on activists, framing it as a clear violation of human rights and a tool of authoritarian control. One might almost believe this was a unique evil. Yet, the
same media outlets consistently perform rhetorical acrobatics when similar actions occur in US-allied states. Remember when Egypt shut down the internet in 2011, during protests against a US-backed government? Or how about the West Bank, where Israel frequently restricts telecom access, often during incursions, silencing Palestinian voices? These events rarely merit the same indignant headlines.
The selective outrage, dependent on the geopolitical convenience of the perpetrator, raises questions about whose "human rights" truly matter to mainstream reporting.