The right to access information and the internet freely is considered one of the fundamental rights and a foundation for achieving human rights in today’s world and the age of information technology. In 2016, the United Nations General Assembly recognized access to the internet as a human right and issued a resolution on this matter. Although this resolution caused a lot of enthusiasm and excitement around the world, it did not mention the responsibility of governments to ensure this right for all citizens. In many countries, this right is interpreted as a fundamental right to life and freedom in the spirit of Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. There are also rich texts in this regard, stating that access to the internet is crucial for accessing basic rights such as the right to life, freedom of thought and expression, freedom to work and study. The right to access information and the internet must be based on transparency. Transparency is of great importance in the face of the power struggle between governments and large and powerful technology companies, and is

This statement that is being said is that information technology and the internet are like the air we breathe and for four billion six hundred million people in the world who are active users of the internet, their lives are intertwined with it. However, it should be noted that today, three billion seven hundred million people do not have access to the internet and the majority of them are women. Only forty-eight percent of women in the world have access to the internet. Human rights in the field of access to digital technology is one of the most challenging areas of human rights in the virtual space. Digital technology is not limited to just using the internet and virtual space, but it encompasses all the applications of technology that humans face. The digital and online space is not limited to spaces such as platforms, websites, social media, and personal blogs, but it also includes spaces that facilitate interaction between humans and technology and control users; such as smart homes, surveillance cameras, biometric software, etc. Digital rights are violated by

Digital rights violations are carried out by both governments and internet platforms. This has been increasingly happening every year, with governments spending large amounts of money to suppress any dissent and silence opposition. For example, in 2019, a report by the East and South Africa International Technology and Communications website stated that during the years 2016-2019, more than twenty African countries had ordered disruptions, shutdowns, and cut-offs of the internet, depriving users of access to websites and social media platforms. In some cases, they have also prevented money transfers and in others, freedom of expression in the virtual space or the presence of individuals on social media has been criminalized under the pretext of “threats to national security.” In addition to filtering words, concepts, phrases, and websites, facial recognition applications and other surveillance systems that violate people’s privacy also have technical flaws. This includes not properly identifying people with darker skin, which has led to harassment, abuse, and even wrongful imprisonment in some cases

It can boldly be said that in all countries of the world, governments have a level of filtering and censorship in the virtual space within their power, but at the same time, it is important to pay attention to the political intentions and strategies behind restricting or cutting off users’ access to the internet. Is it done with the intention of protecting the interests and well-being of the majority of users, or is it to silence the demands of users and violate their rights to freedom of expression and opinion? Information censorship, which is not in the interest of those in power and governments, is one of the most growing trends in suppressing social uprisings through authoritarian policies in the virtual space, as civil and political institutions have a strong presence in the virtual space on a global level. Therefore, what determines the nature of filtering is whether it is done with ethical, commercial, political, and economic intentions and strategies, and whether it is done in a professional manner. Does it protect the users’ rights? The level

Research in the field of internet disruption and shutdown for users shows that governments have used authoritarianism and censorship in the virtual space as a tactic to suppress social movements, elections, public protests, and even in wars to combat popular uprisings. Examples of such actions can be seen in the Arab Spring and recent social movements in Iran. It is worth noting that in many countries, websites that are considered criminal in society are also filtered in the virtual space, under the guise of promoting public health and protecting the rights of internet users. These filtering practices can have public support, including filtering websites containing child pornography, advertisements for illegal drugs, sites that incite hatred and racism. Additionally, websites engaged in criminal activities or trafficking of women can also be added to this list. These types of filtering practices have public support because they do not go against societal norms. Governments also engage in filtering for political reasons, as seen in the filtering of fascist websites in Germany and France, communist symbols and images in countries like Poland

China is the largest producer of authoritarian technological and digital tools in the world. According to data from the World Trade Organization, in 2019, China was the largest supplier of technology for filtering and monitoring internet users, with a revenue of $296 billion, compared to the European Union’s $169 billion. China’s export of telecommunications equipment for collecting and processing user information was $633 billion, compared to the EU’s $363 billion in trade for these types of systems. As a result, China has the largest share in the trade of technology with its autocratic and dictatorial regimes. Tools for filtering, traffic control, and user data are also sold by countries such as France, Germany, Japan, the UK, the US, Canada, and Israel to many anti-democratic and autocratic countries. François Mukoko, a digital women’s rights activist in Congo, says, “Cutting off the internet is like being cut off from the world. You have to give your password to a friend

The statistics of internet usage in Iran reflect the fact that the number of internet users is growing at a higher rate compared to population growth. In 2020, the population of Iran increased by one million and one hundred thousand people, while the number of internet users reached one million and two hundred thousand. With the significant penetration of the internet in Iran, protecting the rights of users cannot mean cutting off access to the global internet network. This action has neither economic justification nor can it be supported from a professional perspective. The growing gap between the government and the people, especially women and youth, poverty, economic and social pressures, and cultural pressures have created very difficult conditions for the people, violating fundamental freedoms for all citizens and users. Cutting off access to the global internet network, controlling and monitoring user data, and stricter filtering than what currently exists has the potential to lead to widespread public protests. Additionally, many experts in Iran have pointed out that content production in Iran requires exorbitant costs and infrastructure that