Iranian authorities announced the commencement of a new cycle of crackdowns on “hijab violations” in public spaces, including inside vehicles. Officials emphasized the role of technology in the latest enforcement cycle for more “contactless” efforts, including sending SMS warnings for non-compliance. Of course, the cameras and facial recognition technology are said to be playing a role in these efforts, however, despite the rhetoric, the true extent of Iran’s capabilities is an area where further research and investigation is required, and Filterwatch has already written on this subject.
Just as intensified hijab measures return, the internet restriction measures put in place last September are also here to stay, as further announcements on tiered internet access were made this month, with the introduction of special SIM cards for tourists seemingly progressing ahead. Meanwhile, attempts to communicate with international platforms to gain their compliance with national laws before they can be unblocked have gone without response so far, but Iran is forging ahead with its international efforts this month by announcing a work plan for participation with the United Nations’s “Global Digital Compact”
Another important event this month has been the continued internet shutdowns in Sistan and Baluchestan province, especially in its provincial capital of Zahedan. While protests have reduced in intensity and frequency in the past few months, people of Sistan and Baluchestan have been taking to the streets in protests following Friday prayers during most weeks. These protests have often been accompanied by internet shutdowns around the same time as an attempt to stifle freedoms of expression and assembly. This month 23 Human rights organizations and prominent human rights activists, and the KeepItOn coalition called for the Iranian government to end its use of internet shutdowns to cover up its human rights violations.
Crackdown on “Hijab Violations” Commences Using “Smart Technology” for Enforcement in Public Spaces
On 15 April the crackdown on “hijab violations” in public spaces, including inside vehicles, began according to Iran’s Head of the Armed Forces Ahmad-Reza Radan. According to Radan, and as per the announcements last month, the enforcement will be “contactless” “using remote technologies” and warnings will be issued via SMS message to women failing the hijab laws in an attempt to further restrict the rights and freedoms of women, despite months of protests centering on this issue. Filterwatch has already written about the use of technology, such as facial recognition, for hijab enforcement in Iran.
Weekly Friday Internet Disruptions Continue in Sistan and Baluchestan Province
Throughout the month of April, internet disruptions on Fridays, coinciding with Friday prayers and protests taking place around the same time continued in Sistan and Baluchestan province, especially in its provincial capital of Zahedan.
Iran’s National Centre for Cyberspace Sets Out Work Plan for Participation in the United Nations’s Global Digital Compact
On 8 April the Supreme Regulatory Council at the National Centre for Cyberspace (NCC) announced its resolution clarifying the division of labor for participation in the United Nations “Global Digital Compact.”
According to this resolution, a number of government departments, including the ICT, Foreign, Culture and Islamic Guidance, among some other ministries, and the armed forces, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the Cyber Police or FATA, will have various roles in the process. The resolution also makes reference to the involvement of the Judiciary’s “Human Rights Headquarters,” however, their function remains unclear.
Iran’s ambition for global cooperation and participation in the Global Digital Compact comes following a major intensification of the restrictions on the internet, including regular shutdowns during protests, censorship, and arrests for online activities
SIM Card With Unrestricted Internet Access for Tourists “Nearly Approved”
On 6 April Minister for Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism, Ezatollah Zarghami made comments to journalists on the controversial SIM card for tourists with access to unrestricted internet. According to Zarghami “a large part of the plan” for these SIM cards “have been approved by the relevant committees and the outcome will be announced in the next few days.”
Last month, Zarepour made comments on this plan, which would give tourists unrestricted internet access or access to platforms blocked inside Iran. Due to public backlash, he later played this comment down. This is the latest example of Iran implementing its plan for layered or tiered internet access in Iran.
New Head of Communication Regulatory Authority Announced
On 16 April Iran’s ICT Minister Eisa Zarepour confirmed the appointment of Amir Mohammadzadeh Lajevardi as the new Head of the Communication Regulatory Authority (CRA). Lajevardi replaces Mohammad Amin Aghamiri who was appointed as the Secretary to the Supreme Council for Cyberspace (SCC).
Lajevardi has previously held positions at the Judiciary, the ICT Ministry, and the Telecommunication Infrastructure Company.
Iran’s ICT Minister: Over 91% of Villages with Over 20 Families Connected to the National Information Network”
In a message posted on the domestic messaging app “Baleh” on 13 April, Iran’s ICT Minister Eisa Zarepour claimed that “91% of over 20 family villages have been connected to the NIN, an increase from 80% since 2021.
According to the Iranian government, despite the continued internet shutdowns and internet restrictions, there is continued investment in internet infrastructure, especially in rural areas, though Filterwatch is unable to independently verify these figures.
Iran’s ICT Minister Claims National Information Network Has Progressed by 60%
On 11 April Zarepour held a telephone Q&A session with members of the public, during which he claimed that the National Information Network (NIN) “had progressed by 60%” though it is unclear how this figure is calculated. During the Rouhani administration, the ICT Ministry claimed that the NIN had progressed by 80% which was refuted by the SCC.
Iran’s ICT Minister Announces Plans to Connect Three Domestic Messaging Apps by the End of the Month
On 5 April Zarepour announced that three domestic messaging apps, namely, Eita, Baleh, and iGap would be connected and made interoperable by the end of the month after having “completed their test phase.” According to Zarepour this would allow messages to be exchanged between the three apps.
It is unclear why the three apps were chosen specifically, however, in recent months and especially in light of the blocking of WhatsApp and Instagram, which joined other blocked messaging platforms such as Telegram, users inside Iran may be increasingly reliant on domestic messaging apps, though exact rates of user growth are difficult to verify. The ICT Minister is clearly looking for ways to push users towards domestic apps.
Concerns about the privacy and security of these apps already persist, and there is now an additional layer of concern as these apps become connected and information travels between various platforms. Lack of clarity, transparency, and focus on these areas by the government and the messaging apps only intensifies these concerns.
National Centre for Cyberspace Announces Plans for Regulation on “the Use of Foreign Social Media by Public Figures
On 12 April the Deputy for Cultural, Social and Content Affairs at the National Centre for Cyberspace (NCC) Ghasem Khaledi announced plans for the development of a regulation on the use of social media platforms by Iranian officials. According to Khaledi, this new regulation will encourage officials to use domestic platforms and close their accounts on foreign social media platforms, most of which are blocked for ordinary Iranians. He added that the NCC is “monitoring the activities of officials in online spaces” to create a “morality police for officials in cyberspace.”
This new regulation appears to be in response to increased attention on the presence and the use of Iranian officials and public figures on international platforms that are blocked for ordinary internet users in Iran, an example of tiered access to the internet or layered filtering, which the Iranian government has denied.
WhatsApp Users Inside Iran Report Issues with Receiving Verification Codes
In April, a number of WhatsApp users inside Iran – which was blocked in September 2022 – reported issues with not being able to receive SMS verification codes to install or login to WhatsApp.
The reason behind this issue is currently unclear. While some experts have speculated that this is due to Iran’s extensive internet restrictions, others have suggested that it could be due to WhatsApp blocking certain protocols on certain free VPN services. However, as WhatsApp remains blocked to users in Iran, they have no choice but to rely on VPNs to access the platform.
