Imagine a world where the internet as we know it ceases to exist for an entire nation. This is the chilling reality Iran is reportedly planning to impose on its citizens. According to digital rights activists, the Iranian government intends to permanently disconnect from the global internet, offering access only to those vetted by the regime.
This drastic move, detailed in a report by Filterwatch, a group monitoring Iran's internet censorship, suggests a shift towards a 'governmental privilege' for international internet access. State media and government officials have already hinted at this permanent change, warning that unrestricted access won't return after 2026.
Under this plan, individuals with security clearance or those who pass government checks would gain access to a filtered version of the global internet, as explained by Amir Rashidi, the leader of Filterwatch. The rest of the Iranian population would be relegated to a national internet: a domestic, isolated network, cut off from the rest of the world.
This isn't just a hypothetical scenario. Iran's ongoing internet shutdown, which began on January 8th following escalating anti-regime protests, has already demonstrated the government's willingness to control online access. The protests, which have seemingly slowed under a brutal crackdown, have resulted in thousands of deaths. The current internet blackout is one of the most severe in history, even surpassing the duration of Egypt's internet shutdown during the Tahrir Square protests in 2011. A government spokesperson indicated that the international internet would be shut off until at least Nowruz, the Persian new year, on March 20th.
A former US state department official who worked on internet censorship called the idea of Iran permanently breaking from the global internet as “plausible and terrifying”, but also costly.
But here's where it gets controversial... This isn't a sudden decision. Iran's current shutdown is the culmination of a 16-year effort to control the country's internet. One aspect involves a sophisticated system to filter internet traffic, allowing a select few to access the global internet, a practice known as whitelisting.
This whitelisting is likely enabled by technology from China, according to researchers from Project Ainita and Outline Foundation. This technology uses high-capacity middleboxes to monitor and manipulate internet traffic. These systems can inspect traffic, spy on users, and block websites and tools like VPNs.
The other side of this is Iran's national internet, accessible only within the country. It provides access to government-built websites and applications, including messaging services, search engines, navigation apps, and a video streaming service. This network is monitored and largely disconnected from the broader internet.
Iran began working towards a national internet in 2009, after a brief internet shutdown during mass protests. Authorities realized a complete shutdown had significant drawbacks.
By 2012, the government established the Supreme Council of Cyberspace and started planning for a splintered, domestic internet. Over time, they refined their shutdowns, blocking services like Facebook, Twitter, and Google during protests while keeping economically valuable services running.
In the following decade, Iran used a 'carrot and stick' approach to compel online businesses to move their infrastructure inside the country. Those who complied received tax breaks, while those who refused faced restrictions.
In 2015, researchers discovered Iran was building a domestically connected internet entirely separate from the outside world.
And this is the part most people miss... The national internet has been operational throughout the recent protests and is now the only online option for most Iranians. While it's likely to evolve, it remains inaccessible to outside users and disconnected from the broader internet.
The former US state department official stated that the powers Iran has revealed in recent days, in terms of its ability to control the internet, were considerable; beyond those of some other authoritarian regimes who might wish to do the same.
This raises some important questions: Do you believe this level of internet control is sustainable? What are the potential consequences for Iran's economy and culture? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
