Will Telegram and X Be Unblocked? An Interview with Keyvan Noghrehkar/ Ali Kalaei

The issue of filtering and removing restrictions on various internet platforms has been a highly debated topic in Iran over the past few years. While the Minister of Communications has stated that lifting the ban on all platforms is on the government’s agenda—and recently, WhatsApp and Google Play were unblocked—public opinion and observers are left […]...

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An Interview with Citizens on the Daily Impacts of Internet Filtering/ Dina Ghalibaf

Internet filtering in Iran has become one of the most complex and serious social and economic issues. This policy has not only affected citizens’ daily lives but also challenged public perceptions of trust and transparency in governance. In this report, we visited Enghelab Street, one of the busiest areas in Tehran, to speak with various […]...

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From Financial Gains to Security Policies: Filtering and the VPN Sales Mafia in Iran/ Seyed Mohammad Sohofi

Unofficial reports suggest that the financial turnover from VPN sales in Iran is remarkably high due to the widespread use of these tools and the lack of transparency in this market. With the sharp rise in demand for VPNs following the widespread filtering of social media platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), Telegram, […]...

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The Mafia of Filtering or VPNs: Which Side Does the Government Listen to in Its Fight Against a Free Internet?/ Amir Aghaei

Radical members of parliament, the spokesperson for the Pezeshkian administration, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, members of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace, Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, and many other names—while differing significantly in their political approaches and perspectives on managing the internet in Iran, they all share one thing in common: beating the drum of the VPN mafia. […]...

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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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Examining the Impact of Filtering on Iranian Families: Challenges, Consequences, and Solutions/ Mehdi Anbari

The digital space has become an inseparable part of the lives of Iranian children, teenagers, and families. However, it appears that filtering policies in Iran over the past decades have created challenges for families rather than supporting them. The internet is now a core pillar of daily life, particularly for children and teenagers. It provides […]...

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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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The Right to Internet Access from the Perspective of International and Iranian Laws/ Abouzar Zaman

Human rights, along with the enactment of laws to recognize these rights, establish mechanisms to ensure their realization, and define their limitations, have always evolved in response to changing human needs, societal developments, and advancements in science and technology. Many emerging legal issues, while interpretable and inferable from previously recognized principles and laws, require new […]...

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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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