Following the escalation of anti-government protests that began in late December, Iranian authorities implemented what appears to be the most comprehensive and sophisticated communications blackout in the country’s history. Starting on January 8, 2026, access to the global Internet was severed. However, unlike previous shutdowns, this disruption extended far beyond international traffic. Our latest technicalContinue reading "Total Blackout: A Technical Breakdown of the January 2026 Shutdown "
Author Archives: Filterwatch
Iran Enters a New Age of Digital Isolation
Exclusive intelligence obtained by Filterwatch reveals that the Islamic Republic has abandoned its traditional model of mass internet censorship in favor of a new, far darker strategy: "Absolute Digital Isolation." We have entered a new era where connectivity is no longer a right, but a government-granted privilege. The findings in this report detail a confidentialContinue reading "Iran Enters a New Age of Digital Isolation"
Starlink’s Resilience Despite Interference While Iran Moves Toward a Sustainable Isolation via the NIN
Since the night of January 11, Starlink internet in Iran has once again been subjected to intense jamming. According to research by Filterwatch, the transmission of interference varies depending on the hour and the specific neighborhood. While some areas remain unaffected, others experience packet loss ranging from 10% to 40% in Starlink communications. This situationContinue reading "Starlink’s Resilience Despite Interference While Iran Moves Toward a Sustainable Isolation via the NIN"
How Internet Censorship Impacts the Women’s Rights Movement in Iran: Insights from OONI Data and Activist Interviews
Contributors: (Miaan Group: Narges Keshavarznia, Denna Millet, Amir Rashidi), (OONI: Maria Xynou, Mehul Gulati, Arturo Filastò, Elizaveta Yachmeneva) Women’s rights are severely restricted in Iran. Three years ago, the Women, Life, Freedom movement – and widespread protests – erupted in Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Jina Amini in police custody in September 2022. But according toContinue reading "How Internet Censorship Impacts the Women’s Rights Movement in Iran: Insights from OONI Data and Activist Interviews"
The Black Box of the Judiciary: Inside Iran’s AI Transformation (Part 2)
Executive Summary The Islamic Republic of Iran is aggressively pursuing a strategy of "Smart Governance," with the Judiciary serving as the primary testing ground for this digital transformation. Official directives, particularly the "National AI Document" and the "Judiciary Transformation Document," reveal a dual intent: to modernize an inefficient bureaucracy while simultaneously deepening the state’s capacityContinue reading "The Black Box of the Judiciary: Inside Iran’s AI Transformation (Part 2)"
Iran’s ‘Stealth Blackout’: A Multi-stakeholder Analysis of the June 2025 Internet Shutdown
Authors: Miaan Group, ASL19, IODA Contributors: Kentik, Cloudflare, OONI, Tor, Lantern, eQualitie, Psiphon, Deutsche Welle Executive Summary The June 2025 Internet shutdown in Iran, carried out during the war with Israel, marked a significant and strategically distinct moment in digital repression. This operation, which we term the "stealth blackout," differed sharply from earlier shutdowns that reliedContinue reading "Iran’s ‘Stealth Blackout’: A Multi-stakeholder Analysis of the June 2025 Internet Shutdown"
Control Over Innovation: Iran’s Paradoxical AI Development (Part 1)
From National Ambitions to Surveillance Tools Executive Summary The Islamic Republic of Iran is aggressively pursuing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to strengthen its national development and security. Official directives, such as the "National AI Document" and the "Judiciary Transformation Document," reveal an ambition to join the leading countries in the field. However, Iran’s path is distinctContinue reading "Control Over Innovation: Iran’s Paradoxical AI Development (Part 1)"
Wartime Cyber Crackdown and the Emergence of Mercenary Spyware Attacks
Executive Summary This report examines trends in cyberattacks, content management, digital rights violations, and arrests in the first six months of 2025, based on data from Miaan Group's Digital Security Helpdesk(DSH). Digital repression in Iran has entered a new and unprecedented phase; a phase in which highly sophisticated technological tools have been employed for politicalContinue reading "Wartime Cyber Crackdown and the Emergence of Mercenary Spyware Attacks"
Digital Repression in Bandar Abbas: Explosions, Crackdowns, and Connectivity Blackouts
Arrests of Influencers, Legal Action against Journalists and Media Outlets, and Widespread Network Disruptions After explosions at the Sina pier of Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas, Iranian authorities took actions that included imposing sweeping restrictions on social media influencers, apparently to suppress the free flow of information, and disrupting regional communication infrastructure. From roughlyContinue reading "Digital Repression in Bandar Abbas: Explosions, Crackdowns, and Connectivity Blackouts"
Iran Cyber Threat Intelligence Report: The Silent War Against Ethnic Minorities and Civil Society
This report examines the trends of cyberattacks, content management, digital rights violations, and patterns of arrests in the second half of 2024, based on data from the Digital Security Helpdesk (DSH) of the Miaan Group. The Islamic Republic of Iran's security agencies have escalated their cyber-repression efforts, employing more organized and sophisticated tactics against ethnicContinue reading "Iran Cyber Threat Intelligence Report: The Silent War Against Ethnic Minorities and Civil Society"