US hosting provider pulls down Iranian site

Students get 48 hours to find a new server

By John Oates • Get more from this author

Posted in Music and Media, 25th January 2005 15:07 GMT

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Lobby group Reporters without Borders is demanding to know why US web hosting firm the Planet decided to stop hosting the website of the Iranian Student's News Agency.

The Planet gave ISNA 48 hours to get off its server and find a new home. The email said the decision was final and non-negotiable but gave no explanation.

Reporters Without Borders, which suspects a political motive for the action, has written to the web host asking for an explanation. The group points out that internet users in Iran already face heavy government censorship, so the role of web hosts outside its borders is even more important.

A spokesman for ISNA described the action as a breach of international law. Despite repeated phone calls and emails the agency received no clear answer from the Planet as to why its site was being taken down.

Texas-based the Planet were not able to answer The Register's<?cite> questions either - a charming press officer cited confidentiality between them and their clients.

The site has now found a new host and is available at www.isna.ir ®