"A critical network upgrade must be performed to ensure continued operation of Twitter. In coordination with Twitter, our network host had planned this upgrade for tonight. However, our network partners at NTT America recognize the role Twitter is currently playing as an important communication tool in Iran. Tonight's planned maintenance has been rescheduled to tomorrow between 2-3p PST (1:30a in Iran)." (http://blog.twitter.com/2009/06/down-time-rescheduled.html)
Twitter just earned its "usefulness" badge.
Last night it was a flurry of communication between Iranian revolutionaries - including messages listing secure proxies free from Iranian government blocks.
The real time on the ground reporting from people directly involved was fascinating (and slightly chilling) and made understanding the truth far easier than it would be from the the news "product" we are fed by professional journalists looking for a 'story'.
The story exists despite the journalist, let the people who were there tell it and let the journalist tell us where to find that.
"only official march today is valli asr. others may be a trap - avoid others - #Iranelection"
"Shiraz university reports of unrest and governor resignation #Iranelection"
"unconfirmed rumours - army generals arrested - many rumours of coupdetat by army - #Iranelection"
Persiankiwi
The effectiveness of Twitter was shown when there were massive protests about a scheduled maintenance downtime being badly timed and Twitter users successfully urged the site ti delay this maintenance until the Iranian rebels had organised their activities for today.
BTW - I think the election result was fair (polls from independent sources have upheld the outcome - I'madinnerjacket is very popular in rural Iran - but that's not the point.
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