How Iranian Green Movement Activists Perceive and Respond to Online Repression

While studies on repression on the internet focuses on the capabilities of states in surveillances and filtering on the web, this paper focuses on individuals’ choices in response to repression. Using data gathered by in-depth interviews of online activists of the Iranian Green Movement -the prodemocracy movement which emerged after the 2009 disputed elections-, this paper attempts to shed light on online activism under repression. The paper focuses on two questions: how activists perceive repression and how they respond to repression. Findings reveal large variation as well as uncertainty and confusion in the activists’ perception of online repression. Regarding the choices to respond to repression, five distinct strategies are identified: (1) self-censoring, (2) de-identification, (3)circumvention, (4) network reformation, and (5) tactic shift. When activists feel a sense of moral obligation they choose resisting repression over refraining from political activities. To resist they select their strategic choices on the basis of the assessment of the individual’s efficacy.