Sixty-four days of blackout; Iran plunges into one of the world's longest internet outages
As Iran’s massive internet shutdown enters its 64th day, international reports indicate an escalation of digital restrictions, a crackdown on VPN and satellite internet use, and the expansion of class-based access to the internet. The watchdog organization Netblocks has warned that millions of Iranians continue to be denied free access to the global internet, a situation that has not only disrupted people’s communication with the outside world, but also caused significant damage to the economy, businesses, and freedom of information.
New data released by internet watchdog Netblocks shows that Iran’s massive internet blackout has entered its 64th day, making it one of the longest nationwide internet outages in the world. The organization said that a large portion of Iranian users still have access only to a limited internal network known as the “national internet,” and that free communication with the global internet has been severely disrupted.
Reports indicate that as restrictions continue, the Iranian government has also intensified its crackdown on filtering circumvention tools. According to international media reports, security forces have targeted the use and maintenance of satellite internet equipment, including Starlink, and operations to collect equipment and identify users of these services have increased.
In recent weeks, there have also been reports of arrests of VPN vendors and increased pressure on users of filtering tools. Technology experts say that in addition to widespread filtering, the Iranian government is moving towards creating a “class-based internet” structure, a model in which only certain groups, government agencies, academics or some businesses are connected to the global internet with limited access, while the general public is denied this opportunity.
Netblocks has announced that a large portion of the Iranian population has been effectively cut off from the global free internet for months, with some reports indicating that internet connectivity levels have dropped to just one to four percent of normal levels at times.
The restrictions have had a severe impact on Iran's digital economy. The Associated Press reported that millions of online business owners, online sellers, freelancers and content creators have faced severe revenue cuts or closures. Some estimates put the daily loss from internet disruptions at tens of millions of dollars.
In addition to the economic toll, human rights groups have warned of the human and social consequences of the situation. Reports indicate that many families have lost the ability to communicate normally with their relatives abroad, and access to independent information, free media, and social networks has been severely restricted.
Some analysts see the prolonged internet shutdown in Iran as a sign that the Islamic Republic is entering a new phase of digital control; a phase in which the government is attempting to completely control the free flow of information through a combination of filtering, widespread surveillance, VPN restrictions, and satellite internet control.
