Iran’s Other Front: The War Over the Internet

The Iranian government treats internet access as a political tool, imposing near-total blackouts during conflicts and protests under the guise of national security. These shutdowns are aimed at controlling the Iranian people by cutting them off from the outside world and concealing state actions. Despite international military action against the regime, internet freedom for the population was not included in ceasefire terms. In response, a vast network of global volunteers, many from the Iranian diaspora, use circumvention tools like Psiphon and Snowflake to share their bandwidth and provide millions of Iranians with a connection. However, these efforts are countered by the government's ability to implement complete shutdowns and the severe legal risks, including the death penalty, associated with using alternatives like Starlink.