From Blackout to Tiered Access: How the Regime Keeps Iranians Disconnected.

Photo by Sima Ghaffarzadeh on pexels.com 

January 8 marked the beginning of what is widely described as the longest internet blackout ever recorded. Since then, Iranians have lacked reliable and consistent internet access, severely limiting their ability to obtain information from sources beyond state-controlled platforms and to report on developments on the ground. It was only on May 25 that reports began to emerge suggesting that the nearly 90-day blackout might be coming to an end. However, subsequent developments indicate otherwise. 

As many have reported, the state continues to block access to millions of websites, while most global applications remain inaccessible, and are unlikely to be restored in the foreseeable future. Whether mobile, wireless, or landline, connections also continue to be slow and unreliable, and even domestic online services frequently crash or fail to load altogether. As a result, a growing number of Iranians have turned to the VPN black market, creating a highly profitable environment for providers.

Building on this, restrictions imposed by Iranian authorities have effectively transformed internet access into a privilege available only to a select group of individuals. On the one hand, numerous network protocols remain blocked, “while others [...] are actively disrupted by the authorities”. What this entails is that although certain connections are technically permitted, the data packets allowed by the state often make successful connectivity extremely difficult, if not impossible. 

On the other hand, the authorities have implemented a state-controlled tiered internet system that grants different levels of access based on a range of criteria, including profession. As part of this system, they have introduced Internet Pro,  a program that provides users with supposedly less restricted internet access. However, the program is accompanied by significant limitations of its own, raising concerns about unequal access, state surveillance, and the further entrenchment of socioeconomic inequalities.

The program is not only prohibitively expensive – costing around 2 million tomans for 50 gigabytes of data, a significant amount for many Iranians amid the war – but it is also available only to selected groups, further transforming internet access into a privilege reserved for a small segment of society. Notably, women are excluded from the program. This is particularly damaging for women who are their families’ main providers and who previously relied on online platforms to make an income. By limiting access to a select few, the scheme risks further marginalizing already disadvantaged groups and deepening existing socioeconomic inequalities. 

Beyond its discriminatory character, the program also raises serious concerns regarding freedom of expression and, ultimately, press freedom. Access requires users to register with both their national identification number and mobile phone number, creating a direct link between online activity and personal identity. In a context of strict surveillance and repression, such requirements significantly increase the state’s ability to identify individuals engaging in online dissent. This is particularly concerning when protesters are seen by the authorities as “rioters who should be put in their place”.

In an increasingly digitalized world, where access to information is largely dependent on the internet, connectivity becomes all the more important. Without reliable internet access, citizens are unable to obtain information from independent sources and are instead largely restricted to state-controlled platforms. In Iran, such outlets have been widely criticized for disseminating propaganda designed to reinforce official narratives and instil fear among the population. 

However, the consequences of this extend beyond access to information. Internet restrictions also hinder the ability of journalists, civil society organizations, and international observers to document and verify potential human rights violations. Over time, this not only contributes to a misinformed public but also creates an environment in which accountability becomes unattainable and impunity for human rights violations becomes the norm.

written by Chiara Fachin