Despite official announcements of easing some restrictions, the internet landscape in Iran complex and heavily censored, with citizens facing significant difficulties accessing the World Wide Web. This follows a wave of unrest and protests that prompted authorities to impose a tight digital cordon, bringing renewed attention to the "national internet" policy and its implications for freedoms and the economy.
Historical background: The National Information Network Project
The recent blocking was not a spontaneous act, but rather part of a long-term strategy that Tehran began implementing in earnest in 2016 through what is known as the "National Information Network." This infrastructure aims to create an internal internet network (intranet) operating independently of the global network, thus granting the government complete control over data flow. Authorities justify this approach by citing the need to protect national security and sovereign data, but human rights and technology organizations view it as an attempt to isolate the Iranian people from the outside world, particularly during times of political crisis.
The virtual network wars and the Starlink crisis
On January 8th, censorship intensified, extending to attempts to disrupt satellite internet services, specifically Starlink , which some rely on as an alternative to the monitored terrestrial network. Simultaneously, authorities launched a fierce campaign against Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), the only remaining avenue for Iranians to access blocked platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Despite Communications Minister Sattar Hashemi's statements about the restoration of some services, the reality is that connectivity remains intermittent and unstable, with VPNs working for hours at a time and then shutting down, creating a state of ongoing digital frustration.
Continuous economic bleeding
Beyond the political and legal aspects, the Iranian economy significant losses as a result of this digital shutdown. Estimates suggest that the digital economy is losing approximately $3 million daily, while losses to the overall economy reach around $35 million per day. This damage is not limited to large corporations; it strikes at the heart of thousands of small businesses and families who rely on social media platforms to market their products, exacerbating the already dire living conditions in an economy reeling from sanctions.
Whitelist policy
In an attempt to contain business anger, authorities began implementing a "whitelist" system, which allows specific entities and companies access to the global internet, while the general public remains at the mercy of a restricted internal network. NetBlocks, an internet monitoring organization, asserts that these selective measures do not represent a return to normalcy for the internet, but rather perpetuate a digital stratification system that reinforces isolation and limits the free flow of information.
