This story about Iranian customs adds another layer to digital fears.
On passing through the immigration control at the airport in Tehran, she was asked by the officers if she has a Facebook account. When she said “no”, the officers pulled up a laptop and searched for her name on Facebook. They found her account and noted down the names of her Facebook friends.
It's a spin on classic fears of state power over one's digital life. Now that digital life includes one's social media presence.
Notice that this is a case of fearing for Facebook, not fear of Facebook. Facebook is again protected from being seen as uncanny or disturbing. Every month its non-creepy reputation deepens. Compare: would this story work as well if the traveler was asked about her MySpace or LiveJournal account?
Bruce Schneier offers one way to reduce risk of trouble from such customs searches.
(thanks to Todd Bryant!)
odd...they didn't ask about twitter?
Posted by: peter naegele | July 15, 2009 at 21:06