Iran has blocked the social networking giant Facebook as their June 12th presidential election nears.  “We are disappointed to learn of reports that users in Iran may not have access to Facebook,” Facebook said in a statement.  Reports from Iran are buzzing that the site was blocked because supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi, an Iranian presidential candidate considered to be a liberal re-formist, were using it to communicate his views and organize events. “It is always a shame when countries’ cultural and political concerns lead to limits being placed on the opportunity for sharing and expression that the Internet provides.”  Facebook added.

Situations like this should make us reflect on how much freedom we have here in the United States.  Sometimes I feel we take it for granted.  Exchanging information is powerful, and platforms like Facebook and others facilitate that power for free.  Iran isn’t new to blocking sites that spark conversation and communication.  They banned Facebook in the past, we’ll just have to wait and see when they re-lift the ban.  June 13th anyone?