Contradicting President Masoud Pezeshkian's campaign pledges to end internet censorship in Iran, the head of the Cyber Police on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining strict control.
Vahid Majid said that lifting restrictions on foreign platforms will only happen if they fully comply with the Islamic Republic's laws.
Pezeshkian had earlier boldly declared, "I will stand against filtering," pledging to "free the internet" for the Iranian people.
In an interview with the official IRNA news agency, Majid criticized foreign platforms as "irresponsible" for not complying with Iran's demands, misleadingly asserting that adherence to local laws is standard practice in developed nations. However, Iran has blocked thousands of websites for political content and issues like images of women without hijab—actions that are uncommon in most developed countries.
He further insisted that lifting the restrictions and bans on popular social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, X, Telegram, and WhatsApp would require these companies to establish official representation in Iran—essentially demanding they submit to the very censorship Pezeshkian had promised to oppose.
For many voters, Pezeshkian's promises offered a glimmer of hope in a country where the internet has been systematically strangled by the government. Over the past two decades, Iran has enacted widespread censorship, not only blocking thousands of websites but also imposing strict restrictions on global social media platforms. Even traditional media, literature, and films are heavily censored, with content scrutinized for adherence to Islamic principles.
Despite such measures, Iranians have fought back, often resorting to using VPNs to bypass the restrictions and access the global internet. But this workaround is not without its costs. The crackdown on internet freedom has decimated small businesses, particularly those run by families and women in rural areas, who rely on social media to reach customers. The Islamic Republic's iron grip on the internet has crippled thousands of small businesses, further entrenching social and economic disparities.
The ongoing censorship is part of a broader strategy by the Islamic Republic to maintain control over information and suppress dissent. In 2022, during the Women, Life, Freedom protest movement, the government escalated its efforts by filtering Instagram and WhatsApp. It went so far as to demand that Meta, the parent company of these platforms, appoint a "responsible official representative" in Iran—a demand that Meta wisely ignored.
This hardline stance was reinforced by the National Security Council and backed by Iran’s security apparatus, including the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC’s Intelligence Organization. They accused Instagram of manipulating artificial intelligence algorithms to spread "fake news" and incite violence, echoing the system's long-standing narrative of blaming foreign influence for domestic unrest.
As Pezeshkian’s administration takes shape, the appointment of Sattar Hashemi as the new Information and Communications Technology Minister offers little hope for change. Hashemi, who previously served as Deputy for Technology and Innovation, has not made any promises to lift internet restrictions. Instead, his action plan merely suggests "reforming" the current implementation, which in the context of the Islamic Republic, likely means maintaining the status quo.
Iran in a broader effort is to advance the "national internet" project. This initiative, inspired by China's model of digital authoritarianism, seeks to limit VPN use and enhance government surveillance capabilities.
Despite grand promises and lavish investments, this initiative has brought little benefit to ordinary Iranians. Instead, it has drained the national budget, enriching crony companies and affiliates of the clerical rulers, while citizens grapple with the daily costs of accessing an increasingly restricted internet.
