Cyrus Farivar

License plate reader

How police license plate readers can invade your privacy

Technology

License plate readers scan plate numbers and then cross-reference them with a “hot list” of plates of wanted or stolen vehicles. The problem is that only a small fraction of the plates are on the wanted list; the rest belong to non-criminal, law-abiding people – people whose movements the government could now conceivably track.

Iran’s election goes online

Ahmadinejad’s foul mouth

Religiously safe search

Environment

Los Angeles-based lawyer exposes Iranian bands

Arts, Culture & Media
The World

Iranian rock band Kiosk’

Global Politics

Cyrus Farivar profiles an underground Iranian rock band that is using the Internet as a primary means for getting its music into Iran.

The World

Iranian diplomat defects

Global Politics

In the past year, three Iranian diplomats have resigned in protest against the government, and have asked for asylum in Europe. The latest defection came today. Correspondent Cyrus Farivar reports.

The World

I’mHalal: The Muslim search engine

Global Politics

In Islam, something that is haram is forbidden. The opposite of haram is halal, permissible. Now, a new Internet search engine is helping Muslims sort out the levels of what is forbidden, offering up clean search results, Cyrus Farivar has the story.

The World

Baseball translator

Sports

Reporter Cyrus Farivar profiles the man the Los Angeles Dodgers hired as a Japanese translator. It helps that he speaks Spanish too.

The World

Online freedom in Iraq

Global Politics

Cyrus Farivar reports on Internet regulations in Iraq. Iraqis have had complete Internet freedom since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s government. But a bill before the Iraqi parliament seeks to ban websites that advocate violence or violate social norms.