Iran is now ten days into a significant internet shutdown affecting 92 million citizens, a move that appears aimed at quelling dissent and preventing international scrutiny of its crackdown on protests. The Iranian government cut off internet services on January 8, citing external 'terrorist operations' as justification.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's remarks indicate a perception of threat that prompted the blackout, though the government has not specified when services will resume. Observers warn that, without a return to normalcy, authorities may be making plans for a more permanent digital isolation.
Recent reports suggest that Iran's government may extend these restrictions until at least the Iranian New Year in late March, as stated by a government spokesperson. Digital freedom advocates at FilterWatch indicate that the infrastructure to cut Iran off from the global internet may already be in place.
Access Now, an internet freedom organization, emphasizes that the ongoing restrictions endanger lives and will further shield the government from accountability for human rights violations. Reports of significant impacts on livelihoods and commerce are emerging, with e-commerce particularly hit hard.
In recent protests, the Human Rights Activists News Agency estimates that at least 3,300 protesters have been killed. However, the ongoing uncertainty makes accurate verification difficult.
The current shutdown has surpassed previous outages in length, raising alarm among many experts. While some Iranians have traditionally used VPNs to access restricted services, the complete shutdown spells further trouble as the government seeks to implement heightened internet control.
Future prospects appear grim as digital rights observers warn that Iran may evolve towards a heavily surveilled internet model similar to that seen in China and Russia, essentially isolating its citizens from global communication.
