Disconnected from the global community: 12 hours and counting for Iranians without internet
Internet services in Iran remain disrupted for over 12 consecutive hours.
If you're struggling to reach out to folks in Iran, don't worry—you're not alone. The country has been offline for over 12 hours as of this writing, according to Netblocks, an organization dedicated to monitoring internet disruptions.
Why the silence? You might be interested to know that the Iranian government often curtails internet access when they deem it necessary. In their eyes, the internet can be misused in critical situations. It's all about preventing hostile parties from waging attacks or putting innocent lives in danger through the national communication network, as stated by the Communications Ministry.
Despite the silence, communication within the country remains active. However, back in 2019, we saw a similar scenario unfold during a wave of protests incited by socio-political unrest. At that time, the internet was shut down for six consecutive days, causing traffic to plummet to about 5% of normal levels. Such measures, as we all know, significantly hinder citizens' access to information, especially during critical times.
Coincidentally, the latest shutdown comes a few days after significant restrictions were imposed on Tuesday, according to NBC. During this time, making direct calls via mobile or landline connections was not always possible. It begs the question: is this a sign of things to come?
It's no secret that the Iranian government has a history of controlling internet access. They often employ this tactic to suppress dissent, favoring strict information flow and censorship, especially during periods of political unrest. In fact, about 70% of the internet in Iran is blocked, including popular platforms like YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram. You might find it intriguing to learn that key decisions about blocking websites and restricting access are made by the Internet Filtering Committee, led by the Prosecutor-General of Iran, and mainly overseen by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
So, the next time you find yourself unable to reach out to someone in Iran, just remember—the internet shutdown is likely part of a broader strategy by the Iranian government to manipulate information and maintain control.
The European Union, closely monitoring the ongoing internet disruption in Iran, may express concern over the political implications, given its history of restricting online access during critical situations. In the general-news realm, this latest internet shutdown in Iran, following recent restrictions, might signal a potential trend in the country's internet politics.
