For years, opposition to the Islamic Republic’s censorship focused on blocked websites, social media, and messaging apps. But new evidence shows these restrictions now extend to text messages (SMS), one of the oldest and most dependable ways to communicate. The discovery of a system for filtering and manipulating SMS messages reveals a new kind ofContinue reading “From Internet to SMS: Expanding Censorship to the Last Communication Channel”
Author Archives: Narges Keshavarznia
The 12-Day War’s Legacy: Security-Driven Policies Dominate Iran’s Digital Ecosystem
Over the past month, Iran’s digital landscape has been plagued by widespread internet disruptions, blocking of WhatsApp voice and video calls, and GPS malfunctions. At the same time, authorities arrested managers of the Rasmio platform and seized its database, shut down the online petition site Karzar, and barred the founder of the Divar app fromContinue reading “The 12-Day War’s Legacy: Security-Driven Policies Dominate Iran’s Digital Ecosystem”
Tiered Internet: A Case Study in Selective Access and Digital Inequality
Tiered Internet is a concept that transforms internet access from a universal right into a special privilege for a select group. It refers to a type of internet access that, based on the segregation of domestic and international traffic, determines access to international internet content based on factors such as age, gender, occupation, education, andContinue reading “Tiered Internet: A Case Study in Selective Access and Digital Inequality”
Iran’s Digital Clampdown: “Corruption on Earth” and Wartime Internet Control
During the Iran-Israel war, the Islamic Republic of Iran escalated its crackdown in cyberspace, launching a new front of digital repression. This includes enacting repressive laws and criminalizing tools that enable free access to information. This 12-day war ushered in one of the most oppressive eras for internet access in Iran. Beyond outright disconnection, internetContinue reading “Iran’s Digital Clampdown: “Corruption on Earth” and Wartime Internet Control”
Iran’s Digital Clampdown: “Corruption on Earth” and Wartime Internet Control
During the Iran-Israel war, the Islamic Republic of Iran escalated its crackdown in cyberspace, launching a new front of digital repression. This includes enacting repressive laws and criminalizing tools that enable free access to information. This 12-day war ushered in one of the most oppressive eras for internet access in Iran. Beyond outright disconnection, internetContinue reading “Iran’s Digital Clampdown: “Corruption on Earth” and Wartime Internet Control”
Iran’s Internet Status in the First Week of Israel’s Attack: Disruption More Severe Than Bloody November in 2019
With the onset of Israel’s military attack on Iran on June 13, 2025, Iran entered one of its most severe and targeted periods of communication disruption and information censorship in its history. Leveraging its experience from the November 2019 internet shutdown and the development of infrastructure and policies related to the “National Information Network,” theContinue reading “Iran’s Internet Status in the First Week of Israel’s Attack: Disruption More Severe Than Bloody November in 2019”
Iran’s Unequal Internet: 90 Outages Expose New Digital Divide as “Cyber Free Zones” Emerge
Iran’s internet policies are taking a stark turn, revealing a paradoxical strategy that aims for regional influence while tightening the digital leash on its citizens. In the past month alone, at least 90 internet disruptions have been reported, with half classified as “severe,” painting a grim picture of a nation moving toward a controlled andContinue reading “Iran’s Unequal Internet: 90 Outages Expose New Digital Divide as “Cyber Free Zones” Emerge”
The Internet in Iran: From Public Resource to Exclusive Commodity – Exploring Pricing and Access Challenges
The cost of internet access is a primary factor influencing citizens’ ability to access free information, which is essential for the economic, social, and cultural development of any country. In Iran, however, internet pricing policies have made unrestricted internet access increasingly inaccessible for many. Factors such as the price disparity between domestic and international trafficContinue reading “The Internet in Iran: From Public Resource to Exclusive Commodity – Exploring Pricing and Access Challenges”
The Monopoly of Internet Infrastructure in Iran: Challenges and Consequences of Restrictions on Access and Cybersecurity
In today’s world, access to the internet is widely regarded as a fundamental human right, significantly impacting economic, social, and cultural development. The internet is not only the primary tool for communication and information exchange but also a platform for innovation, education, and social engagement. The quality, speed, and accessibility of the internet heavily relyContinue reading “The Monopoly of Internet Infrastructure in Iran: Challenges and Consequences of Restrictions on Access and Cybersecurity”