MIDDLE EAST: Iran and Arab countries "enemies of the Internet," says report

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    Date: 
    16 March 2010

    As of last week, the advocacy organization Reporters Without Borders counted nearly 120 bloggers, journalists and others behind bars for their online activities — more than any other time since the creation of the Internet.

    On Saturday, that number went up by 30 when Iranian authorities announced the arrest of an alleged U.S.-backed "cyber network."

    Members of the network were accused of bypassing government filters, waging "psychological warfare" against the Islamic Republic, fomenting unrest, and spying.

    Although China still holds the dubious distinction of being the most repressive country when it comes to Internet use, the Middle East is not far behind.