Digital blackout in Iran has now lasted sixty full days. Specifically, this disruption began after the first hours of military strikes involving the United States and Israel. As a result, authorities in Iran largely blocked global internet access. However, they later restored text messaging and phone calls. Nevertheless, the digital blackout for regular citizens remains in place even after a fragile ceasefire.
Officials in Iran have defended this digital blackout. For instance, they point to security concerns during active conflict. Control over information flow helps counter cyber warfare, they argue. Furthermore, it also prevents the spread of false narratives, they add. In contrast, critics see the matter differently. The scope and length of these restrictions go beyond security, they say. Consequently, economic and social damage has grown wide and deep.
Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani made a striking comment. Specifically, she said certain people can still access the internet during the cutoff. Those people, she argued, can relay voices to others. Similarly, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also spoke publicly. For example, he told a foreign broadcaster that he personally enjoys internet access when most citizens do not. He explained this by saying he represents the voice of the Iranian people.
Mehsa Alimardani works with a nonprofit that documents human rights issues. Therefore, she says these official statements remove any pretense. The government now openly admits it controls the internet infrastructure. In fact, that control allows officials to manage the public narrative, she adds.
Public data shows a drastic drop in data flow. For example, internet traffic between Iran and the rest of the world fell below one percent of normal levels. As a result, for most Iranians, foreign websites and apps have become unreachable. However, exceptions exist only for a few groups. For instance, the government gives some users what it calls a white line. Alternatively, others pay high prices for proxy tools or configurations. Nevertheless, even then, connections remain unstable and short lived.
A small number of people use satellite internet terminals. Specifically, those devices are smuggled into Iran at high cost. Consequently, those users generally enjoy stable and quality service. Still, they face legal prosecution and security threats. Moreover, the official statistics do not even include these satellite connections.
This marks the second nationwide internet cutoff in just over one hundred days. For instance, in early January, authorities also blocked internet and phone networks. That happened during widespread protests. Specifically, those restrictions lasted about three weeks. Then, in early February, access gradually returned for some services.
Narges Keshavarznia researches digital rights. She monitors internet access in Iran continuously. In her assessment, what remains today is a very limited internal network. In fact, this network barely resembles the global internet, she says.
Other countries involved in the regional conflict have not done the same. For example, some neighboring states have restricted limited war related information. However, no evidence shows a long, intentional, or nationwide internet cutoff there. Therefore, this phenomenon appears unique to Iran.
The future remains unclear. Specifically, no official timetable exists for restoring global internet access. As a result, businesses struggle to operate without foreign platforms. Similarly, citizens cannot access global news or educational resources. Consequently, experts expect the digital blackout to continue as long as tensions remain high.