Get ready for a shocking revelation: Iran is planning to sever its ties with the global internet forever, creating a digital divide that will impact millions. This bold move, as reported by Iranian digital rights activists, aims to restrict online access solely to those approved by the regime.
A confidential plan, revealed by Filterwatch, an organization monitoring Iran's internet censorship, suggests a shift towards treating international internet access as a 'governmental privilege'. State media and government spokespersons have confirmed this as a permanent change, indicating that unrestricted access is a thing of the past.
Under this plan, only Iranians with security clearance or those who pass government checks will be granted access to a filtered version of the global internet. The rest of the population will be confined to the national internet, a parallel domestic network isolated from the rest of the world.
Iran's ongoing internet shutdown, which began on January 8th, is a stark reminder of the government's intentions. This shutdown, triggered by anti-regime protests, has resulted in thousands of deaths and a significant slowdown in demonstrations due to the brutal crackdown.
The blackout, one of the most severe in history, has limited the flow of information out of the country. It has lasted longer than Egypt's 2021 internet shutdown during the Tahrir Square protests, with a government spokesperson reportedly stating that the international internet will remain shut off until at least Nowruz, the Persian New Year, on March 20th.
A former US State Department official, who worked on internet censorship, described this potential permanent break as 'plausible and terrifying', highlighting the massive economic and cultural impact it could have. They added, 'They may overplay their hand.'
This move is part of Iran's 16-year effort to establish control over its internet. On one hand, they've implemented a sophisticated system to filter internet traffic, allowing only a select few to access the global internet while blocking everyone else - a practice known as whitelisting. This whitelisting is likely facilitated by technology exported by China, according to researchers from Project Ainita and Outline Foundation.
On the other hand, Iran has been developing its national internet, accessible only within the country. This network provides Iranians with access to a limited set of websites and applications built by the regime, including messaging services, search engines, navigation apps, and a video streaming service similar to Netflix. It is heavily monitored and has minimal links to the broader internet.
Iran's journey towards a national internet began in 2009, after authorities briefly shut down the internet during mass protests following the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. They realized the extreme costs of a wholesale shutdown and have since been working towards a more controlled approach.
By 2012, the government had established the Supreme Council of Cyberspace and started planning for a splintered domestic internet. Over time, they refined their shutdown strategies, blocking services like Facebook, Twitter, and Google during protests while keeping other economically valuable services running.
In the years that followed, Iranian authorities employed a 'carrot and stick' approach, forcing online businesses, banks, and internet service providers to move their key infrastructure inside the country. Those who complied were offered tax breaks, while those who refused were prevented from operating in Iran.
In 2015, a group of researchers used Bitcoin to buy server space in Iran and scan the country's IP address space. They discovered that Iran was building a domestically connected internet, completely partitioned from the outside world, using protocols similar to those for internal corporate or home networks.
Iran's national internet has proven resilient, functioning throughout the recent protests and becoming the primary online option for most Iranians. While it may evolve, it remains inaccessible to external users and unconnected to the broader internet.
The former US State Department official acknowledged the significant powers Iran has demonstrated in controlling the internet, surpassing those of other authoritarian regimes. However, the question remains: Can Iran successfully create a new, permanent online reality? The digital rights community is rightly concerned, and the potential harm to Iran's economy and society is a serious consideration.
What are your thoughts on this controversial move? Do you think Iran will succeed in its digital isolation, and what could be the long-term consequences?
