Iran is experiencing an unprecedented and highly sophisticated nationwide internet blackout, now entering its 36th hour, as authorities attempt to quell escalating anti-government protests. Digital rights experts describe the move as a "new high-water mark" in state-imposed digital censorship, noting its chilling precision and potential to last for an extended period.
A New Level of Digital Repression
The scale of the shutdown became starkly apparent when 90% of internet traffic to Iran evaporated. International calls to the country appear blocked, and domestic mobile networks have been rendered virtually useless. Amir Rashidi, an Iranian digital rights expert, compared the experience to living "in the middle of nowhere," with no functional mobile antennae or BTS towers.
This event marks a significant escalation from Iran's 2019 digital blackout, which was at the time labelled the most severe internet disconnection ever observed. Even potential workarounds like Elon Musk's Starlink satellite system, a lifeline during the 2022 protests following Mahsa Amini's death, are reportedly being jammed, with effectiveness varying between neighbourhoods.
Selective Access and a Sustained Strategy
What distinguishes this blackout is its selective nature. While ordinary citizens are cut off, the country's leadership maintains a digital presence. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, posted on X at least a dozen times on Friday, criticising former US President Donald Trump.
According to Doug Madory, an expert in internet infrastructure, this indicates a move towards a more fine-tuned and sustainable model of censorship. The government seems to have implemented a "whitelist," allowing specific officials and institutions to access the global internet while the populace is locked out. Evidence suggests some government Telegram channels remain active, and university websites briefly regained access before being shut down again.
"If they end up implementing a whitelist, and it works as planned it may enable them to operate in some kind of degraded state for an extended period of time," Madory explained. This approach avoids the total operational paralysis seen during Egypt's six-day shutdown in 2011 under Hosni Mubarak, where the government itself struggled to function.
A Long-Term Digital Isolation on the Horizon?
This event is not an isolated incident but part of a longer-term strategy. Iran has for years worked to develop a national intranet system, akin to China's, aiming to connect users domestically while severing links to the outside world. This places Iran alongside other nations like Russia and India, which are also advancing state-controlled digital ecosystems.
However, Rashidi notes that Iran's national model may not yet be fully operational, as sites linked to it are currently inaccessible. Despite this, the sophistication of the current blackout suggests a worrying advancement in state censorship capabilities.
Experts are grim about the immediate future. Madory, drawing on his extensive experience, warned: "This might be for the long haul... I think it's going to be a big one." The protest in Kermanshah on 8 January, and others across the country, are now unfolding in an information vacuum, with the world waiting to see how long Iran's precise digital siege can be maintained.
