The Protection Plan, part of Iran’s strategy to model its internet after China’s, has once again stalled in parliament. This time, it wasn’t due to public backlash or democratic campaigns; rather, internal political factors seem to have halted its progress.
The Protection Plan—introduced under various names and with multiple revisions—has been partially implemented through resolutions by the Supreme Council of Cyberspace, an extralegal body under the supervision of Iran’s Supreme Leader. However, parts of the plan involving the militarization of the internet and control of internet gateways by the Islamic Republic’s armed forces have yet to be enacted. Observers believe that what is set to be debated and voted on in parliament—in a non-transparent, closed setting outside the public chamber—is related to granting the military greater control over the internet.
Why the Protection Plan?
Since the advent of the internet, several general approaches have emerged concerning access to content and how governments interact with users and their data: the open model, the American model, the Chinese model, and the European model.
The open model champions a free global internet, advocating unrestricted and hassle-free access for all. The American internet model, based on the idea of a free market, positions users—regarding access and privacy—in dealings with companies and legal entities rather than governments. In the European model, individual freedoms concerning data protection and personal data rights are prioritized, with laws crafted around these principles.
The Communist government of the People’s Republic of China operates its internet based on “digital sovereignty.” Chinese officials believe that just as a government enforces laws and regulations within its territorial borders, it should have the same sovereignty over its digital borders. Echoing the ruling party’s ideology, just as the Great Wall encircles China’s land borders, a “Great Digital Wall” should protect the country’s internet boundaries.
This is the very idea the Islamic Republic has long sought to implement. This model of digital governance keeps cyberspace closed and controlled, fosters the growth of a digital economy within this confined space, and allows the government to monitor users and generate revenue.
Implementing the Chinese Internet in Iran: Why Has It Failed?
Despite efforts to adopt China’s internet model, Iran has yet to implement it successfully. Observers cite several reasons for this failure. For one, China integrated surveillance and monitoring structures into its infrastructure from the very beginning of the internet’s introduction to the country.
China also boasts a massive population, which significantly aids in attracting users to domestically designed platforms, quickly making them functional and profitable. In contrast, Iran’s smaller population makes it challenging to attract users to internal platforms.
Moreover, while China is criticized for being undemocratic and restricting civil liberties, its successful economic policies in recent years have given Beijing political legitimacy among its citizens. This has led to a relative acceptance of government policies.
In Iran, however, the government faces a legitimacy crisis. Iranian internet users lack trust in internet service providers and the country’s internet governance. Consequently, implementing the Protection Plan and the National Internet Network appears difficult and complex, despite the government’s persistent efforts.
Despite these challenges, Tehran continues to strive for a Chinese-style internet model, adopting internet segregation methods to achieve this goal. This approach divides the internet into domestic and international segments, categorizing platforms and user interactions based on domestic and foreign traffic. It recognizes the internet not as a vast, independent communication network but as a service on the domestic intranet.
In such an environment, the government, by pushing users toward domestic traffic, gains extensive oversight and, consequently, control over user-generated content.
Episode eight of the “Seventh Layer” podcast delves into the so-called Protection Plan within the framework of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s digital governance policies from a digital rights perspective.
