Stress and Psychological Impacts of Communication Restrictions on Users/ Alireza Goodarzi

To have a simple voice or video call with friends living outside Iran, I sometimes have to open and close several apps before one finally connects us for a few minutes. They can’t access domestic platforms, and we can’t use most international apps. I have to try multiple VPNs to find one that works. One […]...

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Why Insist on Maintaining Filtering?/ Majid Shia’ali

One of the main promises of the Pezeshkian administration was to lift the filtering of social media platforms. In recent months, reformists have tried to achieve a symbolic success for the unsupported Pezeshkian administration by lifting the ban on some social networks amidst the current crises. However, despite all these efforts, the administration’s achievements have […]...

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The Digital Economy in the Cage of Filtering/ Ahmad Alavi

According to the fourth report by the Tehran E-Commerce Association, Iran ranks 98th among 100 countries in terms of internet quality. In this ranking, Iran is third from the bottom, following Cuba and Turkmenistan. Furthermore, Iran and China are at the top of the list for the highest number of filtered domains. Social media filtering […]...

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The Internet in Iran Has No Meaning Without VPNs/ Soroush Ahmadi

The issue of filtering in Iran is as complex as it is straightforward. If we set aside the question of why filtering occurs in Iran and why we are the second-most restricted country for internet access after China, we can discuss the surrounding issues. The internet, the most modern method of communication in the world, […]...

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Human Rights in the Grip of Internet Filtering/ Sina Yousefi

Filtering, as a tool for controlling and restricting access to information, has always been a controversial issue in the realm of cybersecurity and human rights violations. This policy, often justified by concepts such as national security, territorial integrity, public order, and the system’s interests, can, in practice, lead to serious violations of freedom of expression, […]...

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Fundamental Freedoms of the Nation in the Hands of Quasi-Legislative Authorities/ Ehsan Haghi

One of the most fundamental and prominent indicators of civil societies is the reliance on “law” in the administration of affairs, relationships, and personal and social interactions—a principle often referred to as the rule of law. Accordingly, in the relationship between the government and citizens, as well as among citizens themselves, it is the law […]...

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Controversy and Clamor Against Stratified Internet Access/ Parvaneh Ahmadi

The idea of stratified internet access, introduced after the unblocking of WhatsApp, signaled stricter governmental control over the internet and was met with opposition from various groups. This idea was initially proposed before WhatsApp was unblocked by a representative advocating for governance of cyberspace. In December 2024 (Azar 1403), Hossein Ali Haji Deligani, Vice Chairman […]...

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Gendered Impacts of Internet Filtering/ Elahe Amani

The phenomenon of internet filtering in Iran is far from new, with a history spanning nearly two decades. Internet restrictions are implemented in various countries for reasons ranging from internal security to external pressures. Governments worldwide apply varying degrees of censorship to filter the internet. Some nations, like China, North Korea, and Iran, enforce the […]...

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Are Hashtags and Campaigns Tools for Change or Illusions of Participation?/ Mehrnaz Razaghi

Today, social media has become a key platform for activism, enabling everything from public support for political and social causes to the organization of protests. This digital space gained even more significance during the COVID-19 pandemic when people turned to digital media more than ever before. Now, every gathering or protest is not just a […]...

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Loss of Safe Space for Women and Girls in Iran / Elaheh Amani

Sexual harassment and abuse in schools and universities, workplaces, private and government institutions, civil society organizations, and even in virtual spaces, has been one of the major challenges that has shifted from the margins to the center of discussions about various forms of gender-based violence over the past three decades. However, it still poses a […]...

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Placing thieves on social networks/ Ali Kalai

At one point, messages would come on social networks about someone from a distant country contacting you and saying that one of your relatives with a similar last name has passed away and left a huge fortune behind. Now, this person from the bank wants to transfer this money to you as the heir. However, […]...

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Iranian Hospitality in the Shadow of Forced Poverty of Economy and Culture/ Amir Abbas Kalehr

Many people outside of Iran tell me that they want to travel to Iran. They say, “We want to go see Iran. We’ve heard that Iranians make delicious food.” Most of them also say that, in addition to the food and desserts, they want to go and see the tourist attractions in Iran. They say […]...

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