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Iran banned Facebook’s WhatsApp earlier this month.
The reason? WhatsApp has been bought by Facebook, which of course is owned by CEO Mark Zuckerberg – an “American Zionist”, Abdolsamad Khorramabadi, head of the country’s Committee on Internet Crimes, reportedly explained.
Now, a conservative Iranian court has not only opened cases against Facebook’s WhatsApp and Instagram; it’s also summoned that “American Zionist” himself to answer complaints of privacy violation.
According to Reuters, the partially state-funded Iranian Student News Agency (ISNA) reports that the court, which is located in the southern province of Fars, opened cases against the two Facebook services after citizens complained that their privacy had been breached.
ISNA quoted Ruhollah Momen-Nasab, an Iranian internet official, on the matter:
According to the court's ruling, the Zionist director of the company of Facebook, or his official attorney must appear in court to defend himself and pay for possible losses.
Unfortunately, political tensions between the US and Iran, on top of the shadow of anti-Semitism, will of course draw attention from the fact that Iranian citizens potentially have legitimate complaints about WhatsApp and Instagram.
In the US, such legitimate concerns over privacy have led the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to wag a finger at Facebook, warning it to get users’ permission before it changes data collection policies post-mega-acquisition.
Facebook hadn’t responded to inquiries about the matter by the time this article posted, but Reuters suggests that, not surprisingly, Zuckerberg likely won’t go.
As it is, the US makes it tough to get a visa, and the State Department offers this warning in its travel advisory:
US citizens may be subject to harassment or arrest while traveling or residing in Iran.
If you’d like to stay up to date on all the latest Facebook, privacy and security-related news, please like our Naked Security page.
Image of Mark Zuckerberg courtesy of Frederic Legrand / Shutterstock.com.
Nobody i(including Iranians) is forced to use these free “services”. Just don’t use Facebook /WhatsApp/Instagram if you do not like it.
The same Zuckerberg that called his users “stupid F*&%ers?”
The Zuckergerg that would have amounted to nothing, had the CIA not realized the potential of a self-reporting spy network and gave him millions of TAXPAYER DOLLARS through it’s front “venture capital” firm In-Q-Tel?
Is this the Mark Zuckerberg who scammed the world with his “pump and dump” stock IPO that he himself bailed from by virtue of the most obvious use of “insider information” in the history of an ‘at sleep at the switch’ SEC??
This the Zuckerberg that supports any totally illegal activity the gummint that “made” him does on it’s war path against liberty and the Bill of Rights? We talking about THAT Zuckerberg here?
I don’t care where it happens, unfortunately it’ll probably be in the 9th circle of hell after a ‘splendid’ life riding on the mind-numbing, addictive waste of time he’s created, but that boy needs to face real justice somewhere along the line.
Every war is a “banker’s war,” read Smedly Butler for the reality of that. “Enemies” are nations who don’t allow the global financial system to push them around. What’s going on in Ukraine right now is a prime example. (by the way, the banks always bet on both sides… weapons sales are weapons sales, doesn’t matter who’s buying)
Our “joy of hate” (a good book, I suggest everyone read it) toward Iran is because they don’t want to play nice with the IMF and world bank in propping up the US dollar with oil… the Bretton Woods “petrodollar” scheme that’s about to blow up in everyone’s face. (when Russia and China ink a deal for oil and gas, watch out! Your 401(k) will be the first casualty of that “cold war”)
So the mere mention of “Iran” in the media means “no credibility” and they’re always “just plain wrong” about everything.
On that last point, I exempt our author here, Lisa Vaas. You are fair and balanced, and handle whatever biases you may harbor extremely well, letting them out but not letting them get in the way of the matter(s) at hand. You are a talented wordsmith, I always learn a thing or two reading your articles, even if it’s just about the craft of writing well.
Now I’m no fan of the Iranian government, (although to their credit they are at least honest with their own citizenry about the nature of what “money” really is) but if they can land a stain or two on ol’ Zuck’s T-shirt then I say more power to ya.
Zuckerberg will surely never face any reasonable justice in any western venue. Their job is keeping the mundanes living in perpetual fear whilst covering up the crimes of the elite.
Can’t seem to find anything listed on In-Q-Tel’s website to back up your claim that they invested in Facebook, they have an extensive list of companies including Tenable and FireEye and seem very proud to list the investments.
Could you provide some reference for your statement?
They have a nice list of biomed and genomics companies listed, leaves one to wonder what the strategic investment for America’s security in those products is.
This is less a security post than a political one. In the interests of completeness or perhaps equal time, you might have pointed out that the Israeli Knesset summoned Mr. Zuckerberg last year as well.
No matter what we think of him, he would be a real idiot to go to Iran. I would just tell them, don’t use it. They have that option and many times that’s the way we are treated. Even with large lawsuits that many are involved in, only the lawyers make money. The 5 bucks and change is not worth the trouble.
Tell Iran where to put it.
Jack