The Internet Divide: Iran’s Elite Access Uncensored Internet While the Public is Blocked As Iranian officials seek to present the country’s tiered internet policy as “Phased Unfiltering” (or “staged unfiltering”), a small update on X (formerly Twitter) made its real-world effects impossible to ignore. It highlighted what digital rights advocates have long warned: that forContinue reading "X Update Reveals Digital Authoritarianism in Iran: The ‘White SIM Card’ Scandal"
Tag Archives: VPN
The Digital Iron Cage: Internet Micro-Disruptions, Crypto Control, and the Rise of Digital Authoritarianism in Iran
In September, based on identified disruptions alone, Iran's internet experienced the equivalent of 25 full days of outages in a single month. Despite official claims of "improving internet quality," even officials within the Ministry of Communications have admitted that 80% of users rely on VPNs and 70% of the country's traffic flows through circumvention tools.Continue reading "The Digital Iron Cage: Internet Micro-Disruptions, Crypto Control, and the Rise of Digital Authoritarianism in Iran"
YouTube: Iran’s Digital Battleground for Free Expression
This highlights that YouTube has emerged as a central platform for deep and serious discussions about the Islamic Republic, its future, and the regime's policies. But how do Iranian citizens access YouTube, and what challenges do they face? YouTube has been officially blocked in Iran since 2006, requiring users to bypass restrictions with VPNs orContinue reading "YouTube: Iran’s Digital Battleground for Free Expression"
Big Disruptions to Internet Protocol Version 6 Continue Policy of Unsafe Internet
In a move with little precedent, Iranian censorship authorities have seriously disrupted Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6), Filterwatch investigations show. IPv6 is the newest version of internet protocol, or IP, which serves as the basis of internet communications. IPv6 is a more advanced version of the old IPv4, with an IP address capacity expanded fromContinue reading "Big Disruptions to Internet Protocol Version 6 Continue Policy of Unsafe Internet"
Iran’s Future: Filtered, Traceable, and Anti-Sanctions
In the past month, Iranian authorities announced statutes and guidelines that will have a significant impact on the future of the internet in Iran. They include measures to drive users to platforms that emulate foreign products, track user activity on internet and intranet, establish tiered internet access, and generate income from the sale of VPNs.Continue reading "Iran’s Future: Filtered, Traceable, and Anti-Sanctions"