Posted on 06/16/2009 6:52:14 PM PDT by 4rcane
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/17/2600586.htm?section=justin
The US government asked micro-blogging service Twitter to delay maintenance plans because of the site's use as a communications tool by Iranians following their disputed election.
The site shut down for maintenance today, but did so only after a 24-hour delay to remain "active during this highly visible global event".
In a blog post, Twitter cofounder Biz Stone said the maintenance, initially scheduled for Monday (US time), had been delayed because of "the role Twitter is currently playing as an important communication tool in Iran".
A US State Department official said on Tuesday that Twitter was all the more important because the Iranian government had shut down other websites, cell phones, and newspapers.
"One of the areas where people are able to get out the word is through Twitter," the official said.
"They announced they were going to shut down their system for maintenance and we asked them not to."
But Twitter said its decision to delay the maintenance was made with its network provider and not the State Department.
"When we worked with our network provider yesterday to reschedule this planned maintenance, we did so because events in Iran were tied directly to the growing significance of Twitter as an important communication and information network," Mr Stone wrote.
"Although presumed impossible if not extremely difficult, we decided together to move the date. It made sense for Twitter and for NTT America to keep services active during this highly visible global event."
Mr Stone added: "It's humbling to think that our two-year-old company could be playing such a globally meaningful role that State [Department] officials find their way toward highlighting our significance.
"However, it's important to note that the State Department does not have access to our decision making process. Nevertheless, we can both agree that the open exchange of information is a positive force in the world."
Supporters of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and defeated challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi staged rival rallies overnight as Iran grappled with its worst crisis since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
With telephone, texting and Internet services disrupted, protestors have been turning to Twitter and other social networks such as Facebook to organise and spread the word about the dramatic events.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/17/2600586.htm?section=justin
As if Obama will take sides
Crap. What am I doing giving them ideas? Am I out of my mind???
What do you expect.
ABC = All Barrack Channel
(I had previously used: Allways Barrack Channel, but Michael Malkin had the above on her’s. With a really great mock ABC logo.)
ABC is definately un-American, but you are being very unkind to my Australian friends by your suggestion.
Didn’t zero create twitter?
What did I say about Australians?
Sorry I responded to quickly, did not see the .au suffix in the web address.
Stand corrected.
I believe he said, “Let there be twits.”
No prob.
If the State Department played a role, I would be suprised. It didn't show up on Twitter. Only the news from Twitter to the Iranian Twitter'ees that they would reschedule was being talked about.
If telephone, texting and Internet services are disrupted, how are people using Twitter and Facebook?
You don't have to go any further than that.
That's not the reason I don't watch teeheeheevee news -- I figured out almost three decades ago, after watching it nightly for a few weeks, that teeheevee news was *worthless* on a daily basis. (I'm saddened that so many FReepers haven't figured this out yet, but if they're entertained by it what can I say? It's their right to watch.)
Back in the 70s Newsweek and USN&WR went out the window. (Time never got in.)
I've also dumped all newspapers (well actually, half of them went out of circulation) except the WSJ and I am becoming increasingly annoyed by their "news".
Coming up on 25 years of National Review, but without Commander Buckley at the helm it seems to be wallowing a bit.
I smell BS!
I don’t twitter but Facebook is awesome. lol.
CNBC slipped in, by one of their non-Obammunist talking heads, that Twitter was asked by Hussein to shut down in Iran and call it maintenance. Twitter stayed up as long as possible.
yitbos
I trust NOTHING ABC BROADCASTS. They are nothing but an instrument of the administration, the USA equivalent of PRAVDA. They sold their soul :(
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