WSJ.com reports that Iranian expats are being targeted through social networks by the government. This journal story includes one Facebook user they identify as “Koosha,” who received threats from the government over his criticism of the repression of demonstrations in Iran, which he posted on Facebook. He received a message stating his family in Tehran would be arrested if he didn’t stop criticizing the government.

“Two days later, his mom called. Security agents had arrested his father in his home in Tehran and threatened him by saying his son could no longer safely return to Iran.

‘When they arrested my father, I realized the email was no joke,’ said Koosha, who asked that his full name not be used.”

The evidence is more than annectdotal. The Wall Street Journal investigation found that the Iranian intelligence agency is keeping tabs on nearly 900 critics of the Iranian regime in Germany alone, according to a report from that government.

The report itself should send a chilling message to people wanting to express their opinions about the internal situation of Iran online. The Committee does not suggest that people refrain from publishing their honest opinions online. In fact we encourage it. However, people should go in with eyes open and take whatever precautions they feel necessary.

“To cut communication between Iranians inside and outside the country, Iran slowed Internet speeds so that accessing an online email account could take close to a half-hour. It blocked access to Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. For a while, an automated message warned people making international phone calls not to give information to outsiders.” – WSJ.com

Creating different accounts with false names may be a better way of expressing outrage or posting content that may put a person or their family at risk.¬† The Iranian government is looking to match social profile photos to photographs they’ve taken of demonstrators at their embassies abroad. It may be a wise decision to up the security settings of your online photos or change your profile photograph to an illustration or image that doesn’t depict you.

If you’re being targeted by the government, we’d like to hear from you. Contact us via our form online.