U.S. senators want to do something about Iranian censorship

Jake Widman
Wednesday, 01 July 2009 03:16

Business IT - Technology

Two U.S. senators announced their intention to introduce legislation to sanction companies that sell "sensitive technology aiding the Iranian regime in monitoring or blocking the internet connections or cell phone conversations of the protesters," despite the fact that such technology is required in the U.S. and most other countries as well. 

The grandstanding was prompted by last week's story in the Wall Street Journal alleging that Iran was using technology supplied by Nokia Siemens Networks to monitor and restrict communications.

Nokia Siemens replied that it had done no more than install the same kind of "lawful intercept" capabilities in Iran's cell phone system that every other country, including the U.S., requires.

Lawful intercept allows police departments and others to listen to phone calls -- a technology that could certainly be abused by a repressive government but which is hardly unique in that respect.

Nevertheless, Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) see the need for "a global effort to crack down on any companies that aid the Iranian regime in its suppression of free speech."

"It is utterly outrageous that Western companies sell equipment that allows the Iranian government to spy on their citizens, prevent communications between citizens and thwart any type of uprising against the regime," said Schumer in the announcement.

The proposed legislation would make any foreign company identified as selling sensitive technology to Iran ineligible for U.S. government contracts. (U.S. companies are already forbidden from doing business with the Iranian government.)

The two senators also sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging the administration to use the occasion of the upcoming G-8 summit to press EU governments to "do more" to stop European companies from trading with Iran.