Where injustice thrives in the world protests naturally follow. The latest explosion was in Iran. Although the grievances were diverse, the frustrations were great. Many risked their freedom and lives to take a stand.
But technology, too, is proving to be a hero. Twitter, YouTube and Telegram all empower the disenfranchised to make their voices known around the world. Everything from high-level diplomacy between heads of state to street protests by student activists now happens on the Internet, for all the world to see and even participate in.
President Donald Trump, of course, tweeted in support of the protests. Iran’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi, tweeted his disapproval, and requested that Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, stop encouraging violence. Durov shut down the one (and only) channel that was urging violence, but refused to close those which were advocating peaceful protest.