Tehran set to implement law expanding death penalty to online offenses

Iran is poised to implement a new anti-espionage law expanding government control over social media and online activity which could expand the death penalty for internet speech.

The text of the law, which was published by the moderate outlet Entekhab on Wednesday, details sharp new penalties for alleged national security offenses online.

"The fabrication or dissemination of false reports, or the creation or publication of any content that typically causes public fear and panic or is contrary to national security, shall—if not constituting the crime of corruption on earth—be punishable, at the court’s discretion, by third-degree imprisonment," it said.

Corruption on earth is a formal charge in Iran's theocracy which carries the death penalty. It has long been invoked in Islamic Revolutionary courts to win death penalty convictions of political prisoners.

Third-degree imprisonment refers to 10 to 15-year terms.

The law's wording equates dissemination of fear-inducing content with crimes such as manufacturing explosives or weapons, both of which can carry the death penalty.

"The sending of videos, images or information to foreign networks, media outlets, or social media pages, if deemed contrary to national security—and similarly, the sending of such materials to hostile networks, media outlets, or pages—shall, unless subject to a more severe punishment, be punishable ... by fifth-degree imprisonment," it added, referring 2-5 years in prison.

'Hostile' states

Formally titled "The Intensification of Punishment for Espionage and Cooperation with the Zionist Regime and Hostile States Against National Security and Interests," the law was passed by parliament in late June following a 12-day war pitting Iran against Israel and the United States in June.

The United States and Israel are explicitly defined as hostile states, and any contact, activity, or content connected to them is considered an act against Iran’s national interests, subject to the death penalty.

The Guardian Council, the 12-member body of clerics and jurists that vets Iran’s legislation and elections, initially sent the bill back in July citing ambiguities.

After revisions, it approved the law last week, saying it no longer conflicted with Islamic law or the constitution.

The parliament speaker on Tuesday referred the bill to Iran’s president for implementation, state broadcaster IRIB reported.

The legislation was first introduced following a surprise Israeli air campaign in June that exposed Tehran's intelligence failures and killed hundreds of military personnel and civilians.

Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian nuclear and missile facilities, prompting Tehran to retaliate with missile salvoes.

Iranian authorities later announced the arrest of hundreds of people accused of spying for Israel and the United States, executing several.

Starlink

The use of Starlink or other unauthorized satellite internet services for personal purposes is explicitly banned and punishable by six months to two years in prison.

"The use, possession, purchase, sale, or import of unlicensed electronic, internet, or satellite communication devices—such as Starlink—for personal use is prohibited and punishable by sixth-degree imprisonment, with the equipment to be confiscated," it says.

"If any of these actions are committed with the intent to act against the system or for espionage, and the perpetrator is deemed to be an enemy agent, the punishment is death," it added. "Otherwise, if the act does not constitute corruption on earth, enmity against God, or a more severe offense, it is punishable by fourth-degree imprisonment," or 5-10 years.

The bill instructs the ministry of intelligence to publicly identify hostile networks, media outlets and online accounts within one month of the law’s ratification and to update the list at least every six months.