FATAwatch: April – June 2020

Major social media platforms, especially Instagram – one of the few international platforms still accessible in Iran – continue to be a target for Iranian authorities for yet another quarter. While millions of Iranians use Instagram and Telegram (with the help of circumvention tools) everyday Iran’s Cyber Police (FATA) with the help of the judiciaryContinue reading “FATAwatch: April – June 2020”

FATAwatch: January – March 2020

During the COVID-19 crisis, the Iranian judiciary and Cyber Police (FATA) have played a central role in not only implementing a crackdown on freedom of expression and privacy online, but also in defining and shaping it.  The first three months of 2020 demonstrated that the Iranian judiciary and Cyber Police are pursuing an active policyContinue reading “FATAwatch: January – March 2020”

Iran’s Self-Isolated Internet Is Ill-Equipped To Confront COVID-19

Iran has been on the frontlines of the struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic for several months now. With its first documented cases arriving in the city of Qom on February 19, the virus spread rapidly, claiming at least 6,028 lives according to official figures as of May 1. In response to the crisis, the IranianContinue reading “Iran’s Self-Isolated Internet Is Ill-Equipped To Confront COVID-19”