This report is based on an analysis of 20 in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted with 16 adults and 4 adolescents from different cities across Iran. The participants represent a diverse range of professions and social backgrounds, from students and homemakers to programmers, traders, and freelancers. Despite differences in age and occupation, all of them share aContinue reading "The Right to Internet: From Individual Claims to a Social Crisis ; Exploring the Lived Experience of Iranian Users During Internet Blackouts"
Tag Archives: Internet Shutdown in Iran
Is Iran Bracing for a Repeat of January? Targeted Access Bans and the National Information Network Crisis
More than two weeks after Iranian users were systematically severed from the global internet, technical data and field reports indicate the digital crisis has entered a volatile new phase. Since March 13, 2026, the regime’s restrictive architecture has expanded beyond general blocking to target even the "white SIM cards"—the privileged connections previously reserved for state-alignedContinue reading "Is Iran Bracing for a Repeat of January? Targeted Access Bans and the National Information Network Crisis"
Wartime Digital Isolation: Iran’s Strategic Internet Shutdown
Following the joint US–Israeli military strikes on February 28, 2026, Iranian authorities immediately imposed a near-total international internet blackout. While the National Information Network remains active to preserve domestic services, global connectivity has been systematically dismantled. This latest analysis—a collaborative effort between Miaan, ASL19, Kentik, IODA, Cloudflare, Holistic Resilience, and DeltaChat—analyzes the technical nature ofContinue reading "Wartime Digital Isolation: Iran’s Strategic Internet Shutdown"
The Digital Frontline: Tiered Internet, Infrastructure Control, and Information Warfare in Iran
The landscape of internet access in Iran has entered a transformative and restrictive new phase, accelerated by the intersection of domestic unrest and international military conflict. While the country has historically relied on blanket filtering, recent developments—documented primarily through Filterwatch and technical network data—reveal a shift toward a systematic, tiered access model. This transition isContinue reading "The Digital Frontline: Tiered Internet, Infrastructure Control, and Information Warfare in Iran"
Exclusive Report:The Network Behind Iran’s Internet Shutdown; From Engineering Disconnection to Profiting off Sanctions
Update: According to a document obtained by Filterwatch, Riton has ended its cooperation with the Ministry of Communications as of late December 2025. Welcoming the decision of private companies to cease collaboration with institutions involved in restricting and shutting down the internet in Iran, Filterwatch has updated this report. Since January 8, 2026, Iran's internetContinue reading "Exclusive Report:The Network Behind Iran’s Internet Shutdown; From Engineering Disconnection to Profiting off Sanctions"
A Clear Message from the Supreme National Security Council Opposing the Restoration of Internet Access
More than two weeks into the internet shutdown in Iran, statements by the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council have confirmed that restoring internet access is not currently on the agenda of security institutions. As in previous instances, the Council has cited security concerns to avoid providing a clear timeline for reconnection. . Instead,Continue reading "A Clear Message from the Supreme National Security Council Opposing the Restoration of Internet Access"
Total Blackout: A Technical Breakdown of the January 2026 Shutdown
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 "
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"
From Regional Disruptions to Nationwide Blackouts: Examining Iran’s Internet Status Amid Escalating Protests
As protests in Iran escalate, the state's censorship tactics have shifted dramatically. While our previous report documented localized and layered disruptions, new data reveals a move toward a total nationwide blackout. This report analyzes user reports, social media data, and network traffic trends (IODA, Kentik, Cloudflare, ArvanCloud) to map this escalation. We examine the specificContinue reading "From Regional Disruptions to Nationwide Blackouts: Examining Iran’s Internet Status Amid Escalating Protests"
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"