Over the past year, tensions over Iran’s nuclear program have permeated into cyberspace at an unprecedented rate, prompting an unending wave of tit-for-tats with Israel. Ostensibly anonymous hacktivist groups presenting as dissidents have repeatedly targeted Iran’s public sector with espionage and sabotage attacks. Both sides have accused the other of orchestrating these attacks. Thus far,Continue reading “HackerWatch: January – June 2022”
Author Archives: Filterwatch
FATAwatch: April – June 2022
From early April through June, FATA cyber police frequently issued the following charges to citizens for their online activities: “propaganda against the state,” “disturbing public opinion,” “promoting promiscuity and moral corruption,”and “publication of immoral material.” Previously, FATA was more engaged in confronting gambling sites and online fraud. In an apparent turn of priorities, however, itContinue reading “FATAwatch: April – June 2022”
Iran’s Domestic Messaging Apps: Abandoned Rafts Floating on the Ocean of Internet Restriction Policies
The role of Telegram in the late 2017-early 2018 protests resulted in the app being blocked by the Judiciary on 30 April 2018 and intensified government attention on the role of messaging apps in the online ecosystem, triggering a heightened security response to the use of international messaging apps in Iran. With such increased sensitivitiesContinue reading “Iran’s Domestic Messaging Apps: Abandoned Rafts Floating on the Ocean of Internet Restriction Policies “
Human Rights and Digitization of Public Spaces in Iran
Filterwatch has partnered with Taraaz, a non-profit organization at the intersection of technology and human rights, to produce a report entitled “Human Rights and Digitization of Public Spaces in Iran.” It appears at a key moment for digital rights in Iran, as protesters take to the streets and the Islamic Republic responds with brutal onlineContinue reading “Human Rights and Digitization of Public Spaces in Iran”
Swift Price Hike Comes After The Islamic Republic Fails To Increase Domestic Internet Use
In March, Iranian internet users suddenly were faced with a significant rise in the cost of their internet. Major internet service providers (ISPs) hiked their prices 30% to 100%. Iranians took to social media in droves to complain. As a population struggling to make ends meet amid their country’s economic crisis, many households risk noContinue reading “Swift Price Hike Comes After The Islamic Republic Fails To Increase Domestic Internet Use”
FATAwatch: January – March 2022
What is FATA Watch? In the past decade the security establishment and the judiciary in Iran have been one of the primary instruments of suppression and censorship on the internet. The FATA cyber police force has been in the news for putting pressure on civil rights activists, journalists and well-known figures, but most of itsContinue reading “FATAwatch: January – March 2022”
How sanctions have exacerbated Iran’s censorship and surveillance policies
by Mani Mostofi and Melody Kazemi On May 7, Alena Douhan, the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights (UNSR) visited Iran to investigate the negative human rights impact of the United States’ sanctions on the country. In her past work, the UNSR on UCMContinue reading “How sanctions have exacerbated Iran’s censorship and surveillance policies”
Iran’s New ICT Minister: Internet Friend or Foe?
Eisa Zarepour (born 1980, Kermanshah province) was a largely unknown figure in Iran before his appointment to the post of Minister of Information and Communications Technology in August 2021. While maintaining a low profile, Zarepour has taken on several influential government positions over the years. During the Ahmadinejad administration he held several senior ICT positionsContinue reading “Iran’s New ICT Minister: Internet Friend or Foe?”
FATAwatch: October – December 2021
This report covers the activities of Iran’s Cyber Police, FATA, and Judicial authorities in restricting the country’s Internet and suppressing freedom of expression and freedom of the press online during the final quarter of 2021, which falls between October and December 2021. During this quarter we have observed the arrest of a number of journalistsContinue reading “FATAwatch: October – December 2021”
Shutdown Monitor – Localised Internet Disruptions in Isfahan and Khuzestan
Over the past three weeks, multiple protests have taken place in the central province of Isfahan. These protests – participated in by a significant number of farmers and agricultural workers – have been taking place on and around the dried-out areas of the riverbed of the Zayanderud River. The demonstrations have been staged to voiceContinue reading “Shutdown Monitor – Localised Internet Disruptions in Isfahan and Khuzestan”