GVF — The growing number of social networking media is cause for concern amongst Iranian officials, says a member of a newly formed body charged with overseeing the Internet.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei recently ordered the formation of the Supreme Council of Virtual Space, which will include the president, the Intelligence and Culture ministers, and the heads of police and the Revolutionary Guards Corps.
Hamid Shahriari, who holds a seat in the Council, told the Fars news agency that the body would enhance “coordination” between various policy-making institutions with regards to cyber space. “Today, the virtual space is a cause for [great] concern; because some use this platform for transferring information and at times espionage,” he added.
“Around a year ago, the leader’s office took an active stance towards the subject. After regular weekly meetings between the [representatives] of the three branches [of government] and individuals who had had nationwide experience on the topic, we carried out an assessment of the current situation [of the Internet] which we submitted to the leader.”
