{"id":4077,"date":"2023-01-26T10:05:05","date_gmt":"2023-01-26T10:05:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/filter.watch\/en\/?p=4077"},"modified":"2025-06-03T08:40:55","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T08:40:55","slug":"policy-monitor-december-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filter.watch\/english\/2023\/01\/26\/policy-monitor-december-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Government Accelerates Localization In Response To Financial Cost Of Internet Shutdowns"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following internet shutdowns and disruptions with the aim of cracking down on protestors, we witnessed Internet Service Providers be pushed towards insolvency from the severe financial strain of these shutdowns. Internet policy analysis from December reveals that the Iranian government\u2019s response to addressing these challenges has been to speed up Iran\u2019s internet localization project.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite past efforts to create domestic social media platforms, it appears that in the aftermath of the government blocking one of the last major international social media platforms, Instagram, in September, the need for an alternative platform is now becoming one of the biggest priorities. These efforts to create domestic social media platforms have not been met with much success and yet on <\/span>5 December<\/span><\/a> the Iranian tech news <\/span>Digiato <\/span><\/i>reported that the \u201cAsia Media Research Development System,\u201d the developer of the domestic messaging app \u201cGap\u201d has created a new social media platform known as \u201cVirasti\u201d (Persian: \u0648\u06cc\u0631\u0627\u0633\u062a\u06cc) or \u201cEditorial\u201d in English, said to have similar functions to Twitter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Other domestic platforms projects, including <\/span>messaging apps<\/span><\/a>, have also so far had limited success in attracting users organically despite receiving financial and other types of support from the government. Additionally, the rising number of domestic messaging apps has meant that users are not going to use all the various domestic messaging apps. In response to this challenge the ICT Minister Eisa Zarepour announced that the ICT Ministry is working on a plan to connect the messaging apps together to make them interoperable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In an interview on 24 December Zarepour stated that \u201cthe number of domestic messaging apps is both an opportunity and a threat. It is an opportunity because everyone has a choice. The threat is that not everyone can be on all the platforms to communicate with everyone. To solve this problem, we will link them all together.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The enforcement of the use of domestic apps began when the introduction of an internet price policy reduced the cost of domestic internet traffic at 30% to 50% lower than international traffic for users, ending net neutrality in Iran to entice users onto domestic services and platforms. In line with this policy, those using the Iranian card system \u201cShahparak\u201d (Persian: \u0634\u0627\u067e\u0631\u06a9- \u0634\u0628\u06a9\u0647 \u067e\u0631\u062f\u0627\u062e\u062a \u06a9\u0627\u0631\u062a\u06cc) have been forced to move to .ir domain names. The company providing .ir services, \u201cIrnik '' requires to verify users. In other words, authorities do not just want to control all digital content in Iran, but also to restrict anonymity online.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In our September Network Monitor, we wrote that with the aim of controlling all modes of communications, the government, via <\/span>Iran\u2019s Computer and Video Games Foundation<\/span><\/a> ordered that all games with chat functions be paused so that the chat function could be disabled, or failing which, become blocked. As a result, games such as Clash of Clans and Xbox games were blocked. Appeasing this section of society is especially important for the government. During his presidential campaign, the current President, Ebrahim Raisi <\/span>commented<\/span><\/a> that \u201cI asked kids that you are playing children\u2019s and teenage games, how upsetting is it in the middle of the game? It is clear that the infrastructure is not good,\u201c referring to the quality of the internet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the same vein, and with the aim of increasing control over computer games in Iran, 150 popular computer games transferred the CDNs to inside the country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The overall policies stated above show that localization policies are taking off in full force, catalyzed by recent events, therefore we should expect to see further developments in this area in the very near future.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The ICT Minister Removes\u00a0 Private Sector Representative from the Regulatory Commission<\/b><\/h2>\n

According to domestic news outlets, from <\/span>4 December<\/span><\/a> the makeup of the Regulatory Commission at the Communications Regulatory Authority changed to include new members such as Rasool Jalili, member of the Supreme Council for Cyberspace and Head of Sharif University, Mohammad Khonsari, Head of the Information Technology Organisation (ITO), and Hossein Naamati, the former Head of Iran\u2019s Post Services. Meanwhile, the only representative from Iran\u2019s private tech sector, Shahad Javanmardi, the Managing Director of Fanap Holding, was removed from the Commission as instructed by the ICT Minister, Eisa Zarepour.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

IPhone 14 Registration in Iran Remains Uncertain\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

On <\/span>10 December<\/span><\/a> ISNA <\/span><\/i>reported that iPhone 14 devices still cannot be registered with the authorities in Iran. The mobile phone registration scheme was introduced to clamp down on \u201cmobile phone smuggling\u201d and involves the registration of a mobile phone\u2019s <\/span>International Mobile Equipment Identity (<\/span>IMEI) number with a government trade body either online or in-person. Should mobile phone users fail to register their mobile phones within 30 days, they will not be able to use their phones.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

New Bill Proposed to \u201cCombat Fake News\u201d Online\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

According to the Iranian tech news website <\/span>Digiato <\/span><\/i>on <\/span>19 December<\/span><\/a> the Spokesperson for the Parliamentary Legal and Judicial Affair Commission, Kazem Delkhosh, stated that the Commission is preparing a bill aimed at tackling \u201cfake news\u201d online, designed to impose heavy penalties for those perceived to be producing or publishing \u201cfake news.\u201d Such legislation under authoritarian governments can also be used to silence dissidents, activists, and crack down on any content critical of the government. There is already a resolution passed by the Supreme Council for Cyberspace to combat \u201cfake news\u201d which also called for legislation to be introduced on the topic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Expediency Discernment Council to Review the Draft \u201cGeneral Policies for Cyberspace\u201d\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

On <\/span>4 December<\/span><\/a> Iran news agency <\/span>ISNA<\/span><\/i> reported that the draft \u201cGeneral Policies for Cyberspace\u201d have been passed to the Science, Culture, and Social Commission at the Expediency Discernment Council for review.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Details on Iran Working With South Korea and Russia on ICT Related Projects\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

On <\/span>3 December <\/span><\/a>the Head of the Centre for Specialized Cooperation and international Strategic Studies, Behzad Ahamadi reported details of plans for Iran\u2019s cooperation with Russia and South Korea on data transits, market expansion for Iran\u2019s private sector, and the possibility for space related cooperation, however, no agreement has been signed between the countries as yet.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Iran\u2019s \u201cState Backed Hackers\u201d Target Human Rights Watch and other Activists and Journalists Outside Iran\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

On <\/span>5 December<\/span><\/a> Human Rights Watch reported that their investigation, conducted jointly with Amnesty International\u2019s Security Lab had found that a phishing attack by an entity affiliated with the Iranian government\u00a0 known as APT42 and sometimes referred to as Charming Kitten\u00a0 targeted two Human Rights Watch staff members and at least 18 other high-profile activists, journalists, researchers, academics, diplomats, and politicians working on Middle East issues. At least three people had their email and other sensitive data compromised.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Iranian Government Official Claims that a DDoS Attack on a Domestic Messaging App was Intercepted\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

On <\/span>25 December <\/span><\/a>Amir Lajevardi, the Head of Iran\u2019s Telecommunications Infrastructure Company (TIC) claimed that a DDoS attack \u201coriginating from outside the country,\u201d on an unnamed domestic messaging app was intercepted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Bill Proposed by Majles for Fiber Optic Expansion\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

On <\/span>5 December<\/span><\/a> the Parliamentary Industry and Mines Committee approved a Bill that aims to \u00a0 centralize the funding for expanding fiber optic projects. The Bill will now progress to a vote by Majles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Record Use of Domestic Internet Traffic Registered in Iran According to Government Official\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

In an interview with <\/span>ISNA<\/span><\/i> on <\/span>30 November<\/span><\/a> Amir Lajevardi, the Head of Iran\u2019s Telecommunications Infrastructure Company (TIC) claimed that during the Iran vs US World Cup football match, Iran\u2019s domestic traffic reached a record 6 TBps. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Following internet shutdowns and disruptions with the aim of cracking down on protestors, we witnessed Internet Service Providers be pushed towards insolvency from the severe financial strain of these shutdowns. Internet policy analysis from December reveals that the Iranian government\u2019s response to addressing these challenges has been to speed up Iran\u2019s internet localization project.\u00a0 DespiteContinue reading \"Government Accelerates Localization In Response To Financial Cost Of Internet Shutdowns\"<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":4078,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4077","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-network-monitor","entry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t