Iran prosecutes Instagram users over likes, legal group says
Iranian authorities have opened judicial cases in recent weeks against Instagram users for liking posts critical of the Islamic Republic, pro bono legal group Dadban said on Wednesday.
Iranian authorities have opened judicial cases in recent weeks against Instagram users for liking posts critical of the Islamic Republic, pro bono legal group Dadban said on Wednesday.
Several citizens have been charged with offenses including “insulting the leader of the Islamic Republic” and “propaganda against the state” for liking posts shared by opposition figures or independent media outlets on Instagram, the group said.
Most cases have been filed in smaller towns, though some have also been reported in the northeastern city of Mashhad.
While no verdicts have been issued yet, prosecutors have in some instances set heavy bail amounts for the defendants, according to Dadban.
Iran continues to enforce tight control over digital communication despite easing some bans late in 2024. Major platforms such as Facebook, X, Telegram and YouTube remain blocked or heavily filtered. Access to Instagram and WhatsApp has been periodically restricted, especially during protests.
Tehran also deploys throttling, or selective blocking of app features, and strict regulation of VPNs used to bypass censorship.
In December 2024, Iranian authorities lifted a ban on WhatsApp and Google Play, a move seen as a limited concession to broader social media use.
Still, officials concurrently advanced legislation to regulate cyberspace more tightly and promote domestic replacements for foreign apps.
Critics warn that these constraints further limit free expression and undermine online commerce, especially for small businesses relying on social platforms.
Iran's President Pezeshkian submitted an urgent bill to parliament in July that would impose harsher penalties on social media users and content creators who publish what authorities describe as false or misleading information.
Later the same month, the government withdrew the internet bill amid mounting public pressure and accusations that it sought to criminalize dissent under the guise of combating false information.
Over 2,000 people were arrested during and after the 12-day war with Israel accused of spreading false information online.
