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Iran Shifts Tactics to Crack Down on Protests

(Wall Street Journal) Benoit Faucon - As protests in Iran enter a second month, authorities are using plainclothes security officers, digital surveillance and drones to target the demonstrations. Security forces have used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse large crowds, leaving hundreds dead and injured. In response, protesters have moved away from big gatherings in favor of pop-up demonstrations in a shift that has given the movement staying power. Saeid Golkar, an authority on Iran's security services who teaches at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, said using tracking apps and other forms of technological surveillance allows authorities to identify the most active protesters. By sending in plainclothes officers they can deny any responsibility for beating or shooting at protesters, videos of which have circulated on social media.
2022-10-20 00:00:00
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