While sanctions against Iran and Syria are intended to constrain those countries' governments, they have had the unfortunate side effect of constraining activists' access to free online software and services used widely across the Middle East, including browsers, online chat applications, and online storage services.

The U.S. relationship with Bahrain is obviously more complicated than with Syria and Iran.

Like Syria, the government of Bahrain employs aggressive tactics to censor and monitor its people's online activity.

Rebecca MacKinnon Quotes