Iran shuts down most of the internet as tensions with Israel escalate, WhatsApp and Instagram reportedly blocked
Iran faced a nation-wide 'near-total' internet blackout on Tuesday limiting Iranians' ability to communicate with the outside world at a time of escalating tensions with Israel. Media reports suggest the blackout was a deliberate decision from the government's side specifically in response to alleged Israeli cyberattacks. It wasn't the aftermath of Israeli bombing destroying state infrastructure. VPN services were particularly impacted so there is possibility that the government wanted to crackdown and limit the potential spread of misinformation as well, which is often the case in times like these. According to an NBC News report, citing Kentinc and Netblocks, companies that track internet connectivity around the world, Iran suffered from an internet slowdown at about 5:30 PM local time. It wasn't a total blackout which is to say that not everything was shut down. Alongside limiting people's access to VPN services that would allow them to connect to foreign websites, the government also reportedly urged Iranians to avoid using chat apps like WhatsApp over concerns that they might be leaking – or could leak – their personal information at a time of great turmoil. This is not the first time the Iranian government has shut down the internet or kept its people from accessing internet services. In 2019, it forced a complete blackout for six days straight, in the wake of civil unrest within the country which reportedly led to the deaths of more than 100 people. More than 220 people have died after Israeli strikes, according to Iran while Israel says, retaliatory attacks have killed 24 at the very least. Iran has also blocked the Google Play Store and Apple App Store in its most recent shut down preventing its people from downloading and installing new apps on their devices. At the same time, apps like WhatsApp and Instagram have been rendered completely useless on existing devices. Government-approved sites that are part of Iran's National Information Network remain accessible though.
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