The Syrian government has decided to ban
Apple's iPhone in an attempt to curb citizen
journalism during the on-going protests.
Activists are being served with notices by the
Syrian Fiance Ministry's Customs Departement
which say "The authorities warn anyone against
using the iPhone in Syria," according to
Lebanese news service Al Nashara. It also
stated that owning or having an iPhone imported
into the country is now illegal.
Syrian authorities hope that by banning the
iPhone, it will help stop protesters from recording
police brutality and broadcasting it to the rest of
the world. Since all foreign media has been
baned from the country since March, citizen
journalism is the only way for outsiders to know
what is going on on the ground.
This is just the latest tactic used by the Syrian
government since the protests, which are
pushing for a regime change and greater,
freedoms kicked into high gear in March. Early in
the summer there was a full Internet blackout in
the country.