According to a recent report, internet blackouts in Iran will last until late March, raising worries that the Iranian government may permanently restrict citizens’ online access as a form of control.
Iran is currently in the tenth day of a nearly total internet shutdown, which officials argue is necessary to counter what they label “terrorists” behind the ongoing anti-government protests.
The disruption has hampered protesters’ efforts to organize and will remain in effect at least until March 20, the start of the new year in Iran, as stated by government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani, per IranWire.
FilterWatch, an organization monitoring internet freedom in Iran, expressed concerns about the regime’s rapid movement toward implementing new regulations that could further isolate the country from the global network.
The Iranian government’s approach seems poised to usher in a “new era of digital isolation,” which would enable heavy internet censorship to suppress any dissent. FilterWatch cautioned against assuming that international internet access will be restored, suggesting that when it does, it’ll likely be in a more restricted format than before.
The shutdown began on January 8th, a tactic familiar to the Iranian regime, intended to suppress dissent and prevent the dissemination of images highlighting state repression, as seen in disruptions during prior protests in 2019 and 2022.
The lack of internet connectivity has led to disorganized protests and obscured the full scope of Iran’s harsh crackdown on demonstrators. However, footage and images documenting violence against protesters continue to circulate, attracting international attention as local officials report at least 5,000 fatalities as of Sunday.
Observers are increasingly concerned that internet access may soon become a privilege granted only to regime supporters. Amir Rashidi, who oversees cybersecurity and digital rights at Mian Group, which operates FilterWatch, suggested that internet usage in Iran could soon be tiered, with permissions limited to government-approved individuals.
This scenario would further silence the voices of those resisting the current regime, aligning Iran with countries like China, which have established systems to restrict citizens’ access to popular social media platforms.
