This highlights that YouTube has emerged as a central platform for deep and serious discussions about the Islamic Republic, its future, and the regime’s policies. But how do Iranian citizens access YouTube, and what challenges do they face? YouTube has been officially blocked in Iran since 2006, requiring users to bypass restrictions with VPNs orContinue reading “YouTube: Iran’s Digital Battleground for Free Expression”
Author Archives: Amir Rashidi
Iran’s Technology Ecosystem: Challenges and Future Scenarios
In recent years, Iran’s technology ecosystem has faced multiple challenges, including changes in startup ownership, the exit of private investors, widespread migration of skilled professionals, and increased government oversight and control over the digital space. These trends will have significant consequences for the future of technology and innovation in Iran, potentially leading to reduced competitivenessContinue reading “Iran’s Technology Ecosystem: Challenges and Future Scenarios”
Ebrahim Raisi’s Enduring Impact on the Internet: A Legacy of Destruction
The administration of the president who promised that “internet speed should not affect gamers” ended unexpectedly with a helicopter crash in May 2024. However, his legacy regarding the internet and the “right to free access to the internet” remains enduring. Although some initiatives such as the national internet, tiered internet access, privacy and user securityContinue reading “Ebrahim Raisi’s Enduring Impact on the Internet: A Legacy of Destruction”
Friday Prayers and Internet Shutdowns, Sistan and Baluchistan’s New Norm
The ”Women, Life, Freedom” movement is approaching its seven month mark and we are continuing to see people in Sistan and Baluchistan protesting after every Friday prayer ceremony. IODA data demonstrate a clear pattern of internet disruptions and sometimes near-total shutdowns in the province on Fridays. In particular, the province’s capital city, Zahedan, faces theContinue reading “Friday Prayers and Internet Shutdowns, Sistan and Baluchistan’s New Norm “
CloudFlare and Protests in Sistan and Baluchestan Become Targets of Internet Disruptions
Roughly six months have passed since the beginning of the biggest wave of protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Jhina Amini, under the banner of Woman, Life, Freedom. Protests have become more dispersed and less-frequent in recent weeks, as a result we are observing fewer major internet disruptions and shutdowns. However, Zahedan, theContinue reading “CloudFlare and Protests in Sistan and Baluchestan Become Targets of Internet Disruptions”
New Steps Toward Traffic Localization
The start of 2023 was marked by yet another month of internet disruptions, which includes a major disruption observed at the Tehran Internet Exchange Point (IXP) starting on 18 January. Its cause remains unclear. The Tehran IXP center was launched in July 2013 in the Imam Khomeini Telecommunication Complex of the Telecommunication Infrastructure Company (TIC).Continue reading “New Steps Toward Traffic Localization”
The State of Iran’s Internet Connectivity in 2022: The Year the Gloves Came Off
In 2022, Iranians experienced waves of internet shutdowns, disruptions, throttling and of course the blocking of various platforms and websites. Owing largely to the intensity and frequency of protests since September 2022 following the tragic death of Mahsa Jhina Amini, during at least four out of the 12 months in 2022, Iran’s mobile data wasContinue reading “The State of Iran’s Internet Connectivity in 2022: The Year the Gloves Came Off”
The Cost of Internet Shutdowns: Network Monitor November 2022
The most significant internet disruption in October was the major mobile internet shutdown on Iran’s three main mobile network operators: Irancell, Hamrah-e-Aval (MCI) and RighTel which lasted for around 11 days. In contrast, we did not observe such an extended internet shutdown during November. We believe that authorities stopped deploying extended internet shutdowns this monthContinue reading “The Cost of Internet Shutdowns: Network Monitor November 2022”
New Tactics And Measures To Restrict The Internet Emerged
Nationwide protests ignited by the death of Mahsa Jhina Amini in September continued into October without any signs of letting up. In response, Iranian authorities aimed to contain and silence protestors and activists by implementing various restrictions to the Internet, including mobile shutdowns. This month we observed a shift in some of the tactics usedContinue reading “New Tactics And Measures To Restrict The Internet Emerged”
Women, Life, and Internet Shutdowns: Network Monitor, September 2022
On 13 September 2022, Iran’s so-called “morality police” arrested Mahsa Amini (Jina in Kurdish), a 22 year old Kurdish woman in Tehran for wearing “improper” hijab according to the authorities. Within a few hours, authorities informed Mahsa’s family that she had been taken to a hospital, where she died later the same week. While authoritiesContinue reading “Women, Life, and Internet Shutdowns: Network Monitor, September 2022”