Iran intensifies crackdown on internet freedom

Contradicting President Masoud Pezeshkian's campaign pledges to end internet censorship in Iran, the head of the Cyber Police on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining strict control.

Vahid Majid said that lifting restrictions on foreign platforms will only happen if they fully comply with the Islamic Republic's laws.

Pezeshkian had earlier boldly declared, "I will stand against filtering," pledging to "free the internet" for the Iranian people.

For many voters, Pezeshkian's promises offered a glimmer of hope in a country where the internet has been systematically strangled by the government. 

Over the past two decades, Iran has enacted widespread censorship, not only blocking thousands of websites but also imposing strict restrictions on global social media platforms. Even traditional media, literature, and films are heavily censored, with content scrutinized for adherence to Islamic principles.

Despite such measures, Iranians have fought back, often resorting to using VPNs to bypass the restrictions and access the global internet. But this workaround is not without its costs. 

The crackdown on internet freedom has decimated small businesses, particularly those run by families and women in rural areas, who rely on social media to reach customers. The Islamic Republic's iron grip on the internet has crippled thousands of small businesses, further entrenching social and economic disparities.

The ongoing censorship is part of a broader strategy by the Islamic Republic to maintain control over information and suppress dissent. 

In 2022, during the Women, Life, Freedom protest movement, the government escalated its efforts by filtering Instagram and WhatsApp. It went so far as to demand that Meta, the parent company of these platforms, appoint a "responsible official representative" in Iran—a demand that Meta wisely ignored.