A semi-official Iranian news agency says police hope to work with Facebook to fight cyber-crimes and pornography – a turnabout in Tehran’s stance toward the social networking giant that it previously banned after activists used it as an organizing tool.

A Tuesday report by ISNA quotes Gen. Kamal Hadianfar, head of Iran’s cyber-police, as saying the country is trying to remove pages on Facebook created by Iranian citizens that promote pornography and prostitution.

Gen. Hadianfar said the plan would be made possible by cooperation from Facebook. He did not elaborate.

Authorities banned Facebook following disputed presidential elections in 2009. Tehran accused websites including Facebook and Twitter of being enemy media supporting post-election unrest.

Iranian activists used social networks extensively to organize rallies.

Source:  Associated Press