So Far, Iranian Censors Not Blocking Online Game Traffic

So Far, Iranian Censors Not Blocking Online Game Traffic

June 25, 2009

While the Iranian government has cracked down on communications by restricting Internet traffic during the ongoing post-election unrest, an analysis performed by Craig Labovitz of  Security to the Core suggests that authorities aren't paying attention to the flow of online game data:

While the rapidly evolving Iranian firewall has blocked web, video and most forms of interactive communication, not all Internet applications appear impacted. Interestingly, game protocols like xbox and World of Warcraft show little evidence of government manipulation.

Perhaps games provide a possible source of covert channels (e.g. “Bring your elves to the castle on the island of Azeroth and we’ll plan the next Ahmadinejad protest rally?”)

Meanwhile, Xbox 360 gamer Mike Murikami, blogging for The Examiner, notes:

With the Xbox 360 offering video chat among the features of being an Xbox Gold subscriber, this could easily be an upcoming popular way for loved ones and news outlets to deliver messages to and from the country.

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Re: So Far, Iranian Censors Not Blocking Online Game ...

Do people who play WoW actually go outside? I wouldn't :P

Re: So Far, Iranian Censors Not Blocking Online Game ...

I've read reports that WoW games in Iran have plummetted, owing to the fact that the internet connection is horrid.

 

As for the XBOX Live aspect, this was reported yesterday and by tomorrow it'll probably be cut-off. * facepalm * I wish the person who had first mentioned it had not said a word.

 

 

---- hc svnt dracones

Re: So Far, Iranian Censors Not Blocking Online Game ...

Iran not gonna let this one slide for sure, they'll cut off xbox live within a few days since they don;t want the world to see there mess.

http://www.magicinkgaming.com/

Re: So Far, Iranian Censors Not Blocking Online Game ...
Well, the Iranian president is busy at work blaming the West for fabricating the unrest there- typical tactics for those types of leaders. I expect for internet gaming to be shut down soon due to the fact that WOW and XBL are products of "The Great Satan". Today he started mouthing off over Obama, which may end the love-affair the American Left has had with this guy. So much for extending the olive branch :(
Re: So Far, Iranian Censors Not Blocking Online Game ...

Ahmadineinhell'll have this blocked in the next few hours.  It's a damn shame that every time a way to communicate is found, some numbnuts feels the need to blast it all over the media.

Not you, Dennis.  Whoever reported it first.

 

 -P, just realizing he's using a spartan quote to mock a persian.

Re: So Far, Iranian Censors Not Blocking Online Game ...

Man, the situation there is getting worse all the time. Recently on the news they had some people who had been involved in protests 'confessing' their crimes. They made statements of how they had burned cars and looted stores and so on. Oh, and they made very clear that they weren't being coerced into saying these things :P

For god's sake, one of them was forced to say that they were influenced to riot by the 'western propaganda' news source, the BBC. Shitty situation all around.

GamePolitics ShoutBox

Posted 02/09/10 at 03:20pm
DarkSaber: Although, unsurprisingly, he's just being called an idiot alot and criticised for being as illegible as always.
Posted 02/09/10 at 03:18pm
DarkSaber: Oh good lord, I just found Zippy on The Escapist.
Posted 02/09/10 at 03:14pm
Valdearg: IE: Male body/Female Mind or Female Body/Male Mind.
Posted 02/09/10 at 03:13pm
Valdearg: @Zip: TG == Transgendered/Transsexual.
Posted 02/09/10 at 03:09pm
DarkSaber: Forget it Zippy, it's an abbreviation of a big word and so would be wasted on you
Posted 02/09/10 at 03:07pm
ZippyDSMlee: Vlag:....TG?
Posted 02/09/10 at 03:02pm
Valdearg: @DS: Im sure that's what they'd do if it wasn't legal to just tell Gays/TG's to "Screw off," just because they're who they are.
Posted 02/09/10 at 02:50pm
DarkSaber: Whoever told him/her/it that is dumb. They should have done like most companies and made-up some bullshit, yet legal, reason for it not getting the job.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:18pm
Valdearg: I do agree that it shouldn't be legal. That's for sure.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:16pm
Andrew Eisen: Shouldn't be. Spirit of anti-discrimination laws would seem to include sexual orientation (and eye color). Plus there's always equal protection and such. Never know until you try.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:14pm
Valdearg: @AE: Doubtful. Again, it's perfectly legal.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:10pm
Andrew Eisen: Should have sued (unless that wasn't an option given her financial situation or something). Might have won.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:00pm
Valdearg: Story about a Male to Female TG who was expressly told she wouldn't be given a job because she was TG. Its not the main point of the story, but explicit, perfectly legal discrimination like this exists.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:53pm
Valdearg: Lol, I don't know. It may very well be legal to do so. Though that might able to fall under the "race" restriction, depending on how that point is argued.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:51pm
Valdearg: I don't think they do have any legal recourse. I'll have to dig around, but I seriously believe that if the law doesn't specifically mention Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, they can still be discriminated against in those 29 states.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:51pm
Andrew Eisen: Eye color isn't covered either but I doubt it would be considered legal to refuse to hire people with green eyes.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:48pm
Andrew Eisen: My explanation is longer than the Shoutbox will allow. Suffice to say that while those who are discriminated against do have legal recourse, anti-discrimination law should specifically cite sexual orientation so that there’s no question about it.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:42pm
Valdearg: "There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination; it remains legal in 29 states, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity or expression." From the Human Rights Campaign.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:40pm
Valdearg: @AE: Why don't you think I'm correct? I know Wiki could be flawed, but as far as it says, its up to date as of June 2009.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:39pm
Andrew Eisen: I don't think you're right but I really don't know and don't have the time to find out. However things actually are, it's very clear how they actually should be.
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