20-day internet shutdown in Iran; digital darkness to hide repression

The internet shutdown in Iran has passed the 20-day mark. A digital darkness imposed by the Islamic Republic to hide its repression and completely cut off people from the world.

While free access to information is considered one of the most basic rights of citizens in the world today, Iran has once again witnessed one of the most severe and prolonged internet shutdowns in its history; a situation that has not only disrupted the daily lives of millions of people, but has also been widely used as a tool for repression and concealment.

According to the latest report from Netblocks, a global internet watchdog, the internet outage in Iran has been going on for 20 days, with public access to the international internet cut off for more than 456 hours. This unprecedented figure makes it the longest recorded internet outage in the country’s history, even longer than the widespread restrictions imposed during the protests in January.

This widespread outage is not just a technical glitch or a simple management decision, but, according to many analysts, is part of a targeted policy to cut off people from the outside world and prevent the spread of news and images related to domestic developments. In a situation where social networks and online media play a vital role in informing, a complete internet shutdown effectively means silencing the voice of society.

The consequences of this measure are also widespread and multi-layered. On the one hand, online and digital businesses, which have become a pillar of the economy in recent years, have faced heavy losses; on the other hand, ordinary citizens have been deprived of access to basic services, communication with family, and even educational and medical resources.

But what is most worrying is the use of this “digital darkness” as a cover to intensify repression. In the absence of media oversight and free access to information, the ability to document and publish what is happening on the streets and in detention centers is severely limited. This situation effectively gives security agencies more latitude to act without accountability.

Critics say this approach reflects a deep fear of the free flow of information, which can challenge official narratives and reveal hidden realities. For this reason, internet shutdowns are seen as not just a technical measure, but also a political tool to control public opinion.

With the internet finally crossing the 20-day mark, the question is more pressing than ever: How long can a nation be kept from communicating with the world and concealing the truth? Global experiences have shown that even the longest blackouts cannot prevent the truth from coming to light, but the cost placed on people's shoulders is heavy and sometimes irreparable.