Internet & Phone Lines Shutdown: Iran's Information Crackdown Amidst Unrest
Demonstration pictures aired by Iran's official TV channel displaying public unrest
In the midst of the 2022 protests, Iran's government has made an unprecedented move to cut off internet and phone services, particularly stomping out the relentless information flow favored by the country's populace.
Iran's state TV has fallen prey to hacker attacks, as confirmed by a presenter on Iranian media. The hack left strange messages and disruptions on various TV channels, with videos from the protests widely circulating on social media. These demonstrations, part of the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement, brought Iran's leadership dangerously close to the edge of losing control.
Montreal-based Netblocks reports a "near-total national internet blackout," while residents of Tehran confirm the incident via phone calls.
The government's Communications Ministry cites "the misuse of the national communications network by the hostile aggressor for military purposes and to endanger lives and property of innocent people" as the reason for the restriction, allowing for internal communication to continue.
Data suggests the shutdown severely crippled independent voices amongst the protesters and ordinary Iranians, silencing many who rely on these networks to share real-time updates. The information vacuum left by the blackout invited regime-sanctioned narratives to dominate, often viewed as biased and inaccurate portrayals of the events.
The Iranian regime has demonstrated a history of implementing internet shutdowns as a method to crush dissent during times of crisis and manipulate narratives to their advantage. The drastic measures taken in 2022 were a stark reminder of their enduring tactics to preserve control and stifle opposition.
References:- ntv.de- uzh/dpa- TechCrunch, NetBlocks, and Reporters without Borders
Tags: Iran, Israel War, Israel, Tehran, Middle East Conflict, Propaganda, Cyberattacks
- The European Union, acknowledging Iran's suppression of independent voices during the 2022 protests, may deliberate over strengthening its common foreign and security policy to address such war-and-conflicts, politics, and general-news incidents involving information censorship and cyberattacks.
- As Iran's government continues to manipulate narratives through internet shutdowns and regime-sanctioned news, crime-and-justice organizations may call for international intervention to ensure accurate reporting of war-and-conflicts situations, promoting free speech and transparency in the midst of political turmoil.
