Iran may be moving towards a permanent break from the global internet, with access restricted to individuals approved by the authorities, according to a Guardian report citing Iranian digital rights activists.
Iran is preparing to permanently disconnect from the global internet, allowing access only to individuals approved by the authorities, according to a Guardian report citing Iranian digital rights activists.
Filterwatch, an organisation that monitors internet censorship in Iran, said a confidential plan is under way to turn international internet access into a “government privilege”. The report is based on information from multiple sources inside the country.
State media and government officials have already suggested the move is permanent, warning that unrestricted internet access will not be restored after 2026.
Who will get online access
Under the proposed system, Iranians who obtain security clearance or pass government screening would be allowed access to a restricted version of the global internet, said Amir Rashidi, head of Filterwatch.
The rest of the population would be limited to Iran’s national internet — a domestic, parallel network cut off from the wider world.
Shutdown linked to protests
Iran’s latest internet shutdown began on 8 January after nearly two weeks of escalating anti-regime protests. Thousands of people have reportedly been killed, though demonstrations have slowed following a harsh crackdown.
The blackout has severely restricted the flow of information from the country and is among the longest and most severe internet shutdowns in history, surpassing Egypt’s 2011 shutdown during the Tahrir Square protests. A government spokesperson has reportedly said global internet access will remain blocked until at least Nowruz, the Persian new year on 20 March.
International concerns over long-term impact
A former US state department official familiar with internet censorship described the idea of a permanent break from the global internet as “plausible and terrifying”, while warning of serious economic consequences.
“They may attempt it, but the economic and cultural impact would be enormous, and there is a risk of overreach,” the official said.
Rashidi said Iranian authorities appear satisfied with the current level of connectivity and believe the shutdown has helped them regain control.
Years in the making
The current blackout is the culmination of a 16-year effort by the Iranian government to tighten control over the country’s internet infrastructure.
One key element of this strategy is “whitelisting” — selectively allowing certain users access to the global internet while blocking it for others.
Researchers from Project Ainita and the Outline Foundation said the system was likely enabled by technology supplied by China. It relies on high-capacity devices known as middleboxes, which attach to network cables to monitor and manipulate internet traffic.
These systems can be scaled to inspect internet traffic across an entire country, allowing authorities to monitor users and block websites, protocols and some VPN services.
“Censorship equipment is embedded across the network, allowing the government to block connections in both directions,” the researchers said.
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