Iran has been hit with a near‑total nationwide internet blackout amid widespread anti‑government protests, with independent monitors reporting connectivity has fallen to a tiny fraction of normal levels as authorities restrict access across the country. NetBlocks, a global internet monitoring group, confirmed the blackout has persisted for over 36–48 hours, sharply curtailing Iranians’ ability to communicate and share information.Cybersecurity expert noted the shutdown appears to be an intentional, centrally imposed disruption — often described as an “internet kill switch” — rather than a technical failure, and is intended to limit coverage of events on the ground and disrupt protest coordination. The move appears to be aimed at limiting and hiding the flow of information about alleged abuses and crimes by security forces as nationwide protests challenging Iran’s theocracy continue. Concerns existed that authorities might attempt to interfere with satellite signals to prevent footage of the unrest from reaching the outside world. According to the Associated Press, at least 116 people have been killed in connection with the nationwide unrest so far.Amnesty International said, “People in Iran daring to express their anger at decades of repression and demand fundamental change are once again being met with a deadly pattern of security forces unlawfully firing at, chasing, arresting and beating protesters.”
Iran’s internet blackout
Alp Toker, CEO of NetBlocks, was quoted by Fox News as saying, “This is Iran’s war against its own population using digital means. This was a piecemeal measure that eventually encompassed the entire country, with the government willing to use this kind of measure for an extended period of time.”He added that “There would be an attempt by the regime to cover up crimes that it may have committed, so this blackout could potentially last for days or weeks.”NetBlocks has described the current blackout as among the most severe ever recorded in Iran. “We are tracking near-total disconnection of internet service across Iran right now, and connectivity is below 2% of ordinary levels,” Toker said. “This is a nationwide disruption that is impacting almost all services, all connectivity and all avenues of life, extending beyond just mobile phones and computers.”The shutdown is affecting essential services, including banks, and severely restricting communication within the country. “There are a few gaps, so it’s possible to communicate with those close to the borders through Wi-Fi or mobile service that crosses borders,” Toker explained. “It’s also occasionally possible to find a part in the service, in a fixed-line service, where they can tunnel through all those, but that is increasingly rare and no longer an option.“Satellite internet, such as Starlink, remains technically feasible but the regime has banned the equipment. “The technology that the Iranian regime uses to trace links is essentially anti-espionage technology,” Toker said.He noted that similar measures were imposed during multi-week blackouts in 2019 and 2022, both coinciding with major protests, including those following the killing of Mahsa Amini. “In past incidents, we did observe that the government attempted to keep a baseline of service available. In this recent case, they pulled the plug, so there’s a far more extreme measure in place here, which suggests that the regime is scared and isn’t taking risks when it comes to the possibility of information reaching the outside world,” he said.Protests fuelled by a deepening economic crisis have swept Iran since they began on December 28, following the collapse of the Iranian rial, as soaring inflation has driven frustrated traders and university students into the streets of major cities, including Tehran. The unrest, challenging Iran’s theocracy, has since intensified. Observers say the demonstrations are the largest since 2022, when the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody sparked nationwide anti-government protests. At least 116 people have been killed in violence linked to the nationwide protests challenging Iran’s theocratic leadership. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that more than 2,600 people have also been arrested. With internet access restricted and phone lines cut across Iran, assessing the full scale of the demonstrations has become increasingly difficult.
