Latest news with #internetshutdown
The Guardian
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘It's like being walled in': young Iranians break through internet blackout
Amir* hasn't slept much in days. From his apartment in northern Tehran, the 23-year-old spends his nights searching for proxy links – fragile digital lifelines that briefly break through the internet blackout. Iran remains under a near-total internet shutdown, severely limiting access to information. A group of young Iranians are, however, working non-stop to breech the blackout to ensure their voices go out to the outside world. 'We can't use VPNs any more. To get around this internet blackout, we are using special proxy links, essentially 'secret tunnels' that route messages through servers outside Iran,' said Amir, adding that he has managed to build a system to give proxies to his friends. 'These links are a part of one of the app's features […] they route Telegram traffic from an internal server. Each of them does this for a few hours and then fails. So I constantly try to find new ones to send to my folks.' The Iranian government shut down access to the internet, accusing Israel of exploiting the network for military purposes. Local sources told the Guardian no one has access to the internet except correspondents working for vetted foreign media. Domestic messaging apps continue to work, but young Iranians have little faith in their security. Amir said: 'We have domestic apps, but they're bullshit. The government uses every opportunity it gets to spy on us, especially student leaders.' Last week, Amnesty International called on the authorities to lift the communications blackout, stating it 'prevents people from finding safe routes, accessing life-saving resources and staying informed'. Another student leader, Leila*, 22, who lives in Abbas Abad in north-central Tehran, said she only managed to reconnect after receiving help from abroad. 'My boyfriend in Europe sent me configuration links via text. Without that I would still be completely cut off. The internet suddenly works for a few minutes here and there, but goes off before I can use any websites.' The blackout not only severed contact with the outside world, but made life under Israeli bombardment even more difficult. 'It's like being walled in,' said Arash*, a student in Tehran. 'We've lost access to each other, to independent news, to help. There's just state media and silence followed by the sounds of bombs.' For Amir, the most frightening part is how the war is becoming normal. 'We're starting to act like this is normal,' he said, though 'war is not normal'. He said they now recognise shaking windows as air raids or explosions. While the war terrified him, the blackout added to his worries. 'That's what erases us … makes us invisible. And still, we're here. Still trying to connect with the free world.' * Names have been changed
The National
21-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
'Worst internet shutdown': Iranians abroad fear for loved ones amid blackout back home
It has been a week of dreading and despair for Shirin, a young Iranian woman living in Europe. She has not heard from her family in Iran for five days, after the government disconnected phone and internet services over cybersecurity threats sparked by the war with Israel. The many text messages Shirin sends each day go unanswered. Her calls are cut off after one ring and WhatsApp threads remain marked with a disheartening single tick – meaning recent messages have not been delivered. More than 400 people have been killed and 3,500 injured in Iran since Israel began its attacks on June 13, Iranian state media has reported. In Israel, 24 civilians have been killed by Iranian missile attacks, according to local authorities. The blackout imposed earlier in the week for the more than 90 million people of Iran has left civilians in the dark about when and where the next Israeli strike might occur. Activists describe the move as a form of psychological warfare in a country all too familiar with state-imposed information controls and internet shutdowns during times of unrest. 'It's like waiting outside an operating room, not knowing anything about how the surgery is going,' said Shirin. 'The last thing my dad told me before the shutdown was, 'Don't worry, stay where you are and go on with your life. It's all going to be OK.' But, of course, we're completely panicked.' She said the last time such an internet shutdown occurred was during the Woman, Life, Freedom protests in 2022. Those were among the most significant political uprisings in Iran 's recent history, when millions demanded an end to gender-based discrimination. The protests were met with violent repression by authorities. Shirin is far from alone. Around the world, Iranians are desperately waiting for any news that their loved ones back home are safe, as deadly missile exchanges between Iran and Israel have escalated since June 13, following strikes Israel claimed were aimed at halting Tehran's nuclear programme. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week that the change or fall of Iran's leadership was not a goal of Israel's attacks, but could be a result. Cyber attacks have surged since the conflict began, aimed at Iranian banks and state television networks. On Wednesday, hackers briefly took control of the national TV news channel and broadcast a message calling on people to hold protests, which the network quickly dismissed as an 'irrelevant message'. Prominent internet monitoring organisation NetBlocks said the country had faced significant disruptions since the conflict started. On Saturday, it said internet services partially resumed after a 62-hour, government-imposed shutdown. These blackouts severely 'limit the public's ability to express political viewpoints, communicate freely and follow safety alerts amid continuing conflict with Israel", the group said. While Iran blocks access to many foreign websites, social media and messaging apps, a wider range of websites could not be reached this week. The slowdown has also reportedly disrupted tools such as virtual private networks (VPNs), which many rely on to access international content. 'This was the worst internet shutdown we've ever experienced in Iran,' Amir Rashidi, director of cybersecurity and digital rights at Miaan Group. 'Usually, they block access from inside the country to the outside. But in this case, we had no access both ways. We have never had this kind of shutdown before. It meant we had zero visibility into what was happening inside the country.' He said VPNs were restricted and phone calls from outside Iran were completely blocked, although calls within the country still worked. 'There's been some improvement starting today [June 21],' he added. 'But there's still fear it could come back at any time.' There is currently a 'white-listing' system in place, with only a limited number of websites accessible both inside and outside Iran. 'It's unclear what the exact policy is or how these websites are chosen,' he said. 'Concerning' pattern Rights organisations have denounced the move to restrict internet access as part of a concerning trend. 'We are deeply worried about the nature and scale of the shutdown, which only adds to the distress of people already grappling with … uncertainty,' Hussein Baoumi, the Middle East and North Africa deputy regional director at Amnesty International, told The National. 'Restricting access to platforms like WhatsApp and other communication tools prevents people from obtaining potentially life-saving information, including warnings about bombings.' Iranian authorities have cut off internet access at other critical periods in the past. In 2019, Tehran completely shut down access for six days during nationwide protests that reportedly led to the deaths of more than 100 people amid a crackdown by security forces. 'The shutdown also serves to control what can be shared on social media, particularly anything that might challenge the government. We've raised concerns about this pattern in the past,' said Mr Baoumi. Abbas, another Iranian living in Europe, said blackouts occurred every time there was unrest in the country. For him, this reveals the government's true intentions behind the latest restrictions. 'As soon as there are protests, they cut the internet so people can't communicate, film or share information. They cut it to limit communication with the Iranian diaspora, to block access to information from abroad,' he said. 'They cut it because they're afraid of the people."
Asharq Al-Awsat
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Iranians Are Left with No Internet Access Again
Internet-access advocacy group reported on Saturday that the limited internet access that had come back up in Iran has once again 'collapsed.' The group said on X that the disconnect came after 'a brief period when residents could exchange messages with the outside world.' A nationwide internet shutdown has been in place for several days, isolating Iranians. Government officials had disconnected phone and web services earlier in the week for the more than 90 million people who live in Iran, citing cybersecurity threats from Israel. But many Iranians and activists see it as another example of state information control and targeted internet shutdowns the country has deployed during periods of protests and unrest. The shutdown left civilians unaware of when and where Israel would strike next and if their family or friends were among the victims.
The National
21-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Iranians abroad fear for loved ones amid internet blackout back home
It has been a week of dreading and despair for Shirin, a young Iranian woman living in Europe. She has not heard from her family in Iran for five days, after the government disconnected phone and internet services over cybersecurity threats sparked by the war with Israel. The many text messages Shirin sends each day go unanswered. Her calls are cut off after one ring and WhatsApp threads remain marked with a disheartening single tick – meaning recent messages have not been delivered. More than 400 people have been killed and 3,500 injured in Iran since Israel began its attacks on June 13, Iranian state media has reported. In Israel, 24 civilians have been killed by Iranian missile attacks, according to local authorities. The blackout imposed earlier in the week for the more than 90 million people of Iran has left civilians in the dark about when and where the next Israeli strike might occur. Activists describe the move as a form of psychological warfare in a country all too familiar with state-imposed information controls and internet shutdowns during times of unrest. 'It's like waiting outside an operating room, not knowing anything about how the surgery is going,' said Shirin. 'The last thing my dad told me before the shutdown was, 'Don't worry, stay where you are and go on with your life. It's all going to be OK.' But, of course, we're completely panicked.' She said the last time such an internet shutdown occurred was during the Woman, Life, Freedom protests in 2022. Those were among the most significant political uprisings in Iran 's recent history, when millions demanded an end to gender-based discrimination. The protests were met with violent repression by authorities. Shirin is far from alone. Around the world, Iranians are desperately waiting for any news that their loved ones back home are safe, as deadly missile exchanges between Iran and Israel have escalated since June 13, following Israeli strikes it claimed were aimed at halting Tehran's nuclear programme. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week that the change or fall of Iran's leadership was not a goal of Israel's attacks, but could be a result. Cyber attacks have surged since the conflict began, aimed at Iranian banks and state television networks. On Wednesday, hackers briefly took control of the national TV news channel, broadcasting a message calling on people to hold protests, which the network quickly dismissed as an 'irrelevant message'. Prominent internet monitoring organisation NetBlocks said the country had faced significant disruptions since the conflict started. On Saturday, it said internet services partially resumed after a 62-hour, government-imposed shutdown. These blackouts severely 'limit the public's ability to express political viewpoints, communicate freely and follow safety alerts amid continuing conflict with Israel", the group said. While Iran blocks access to many foreign websites, social media and messaging apps, a wider range of websites could not be reached this week. The slowdown has also reportedly disrupted tools such as virtual private networks (VPNs), which many rely on to access international content. 'This was the worst internet shutdown we've ever experienced in Iran,' Amir Rashidi, director of cybersecurity and digital rights at Miaan Group. 'Usually, they block access from inside the country to the outside. But in this case, we had no access both ways. We have never had this kind of shutdown before. It meant we had zero visibility into what was happening inside the country.' He said VPNs were restricted and phone calls from outside Iran were completely blocked, although calls within the country still worked. 'There's been some improvement starting today [June 21],' he added. 'But there's still fear it could come back at any time.' There is currently a 'white-listing' system in place, with only a limited number of websites accessible both inside and outside Iran. 'It's unclear what the exact policy is or how these websites are chosen,' he said. 'Concerning' pattern Rights organisations have denounced the move to restrict internet as part of a 'concerning' trend. 'We are deeply worried about the nature and scale of the shutdown, which only adds to the distress of people already grappling with … uncertainty,' Hussein Baoumi, the Middle East and North Africa deputy regional director at Amnesty International, told The National. 'Restricting access to platforms like WhatsApp and other communication tools prevents people from obtaining potentially life-saving information, including warnings about bombings.' Iranian authorities have cut off internet access at other critical periods in the past. In 2019, Tehran completely shut down access for six days during nationwide protests that reportedly led to the deaths of more than 100 people amid a crackdown by security forces. 'The shutdown also serves to control what can be shared on social media, particularly anything that might challenge the government. We've raised concerns about this pattern in the past,' said Mr Baoumi. Abbas, another Iranian living in Europe, said blackouts occurred every time there was unrest in the country. For him, this reveals the government's true intentions behind the latest restrictions. 'As soon as there are protests, they cut the internet so people can't communicate, film or share information. They cut it to limit communication with the Iranian diaspora, to block access to information from abroad,' he said. 'They cut it because they're afraid of the people."
The National
21-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Iranians abroad fear for loved ones' lives amid internet blackout back home
It has been a week of dreading and despair for Shirin*, a young Iranian woman living in Europe. She has not heard from her family in Iran for five days, after the government disconnected phone and internet services, citing cyber security threats sparked by the war with Israel. The many messages Shirin sends by SMS each day go unanswered. Her calls are cut off after one ring and WhatsApp threads remain marked with a disheartening single tick – meaning recent messages have not been delivered. More than 400 people have been killed and 3,500 injured in Iran since Israel began its attacks on June 13, Iranian state media has reported. In Israel, 24 civilians have been killed by Iranian missile attacks, according to local authorities. The blackout imposed earlier in the week for the more than 90 million people of Iran has left civilians in the dark about when and where the next Israeli strike might occur. Activists describe the move as a form of psychological warfare in a country all too familiar with state-imposed information controls and internet shutdowns during times of unrest. 'It's like waiting outside an operating room, not knowing anything about how the surgery is going,' said Shirin. 'The last thing my dad told me before the shutdown was, 'Don't worry, stay where you are and go on with your life. It's all going to be OK,' but of course, we're completely panicked.' She said the last time such an internet shutdown occurred was during the Woman, Life, Freedom protests in 2022, among the most significant political uprisings in Iran 's recent history, when millions demanded an end to gender-based discrimination. The protests were met with violent repression by authorities. Shirin is far from alone. Around the world, Iranian expatriates are desperately waiting for any news that their loved ones back home are safe, as deadly missile exchanges between Iran and Israel have escalated since June 13, following Israeli strikes it claimed were aimed at halting Iran's nuclear programme. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week that the change or fall of Iran's leadership was not a goal of Israel's attacks but could be a result. Cyber attacks have surged since the conflict began, aimed at Iranian banks and state television networks. On Wednesday, hackers briefly took control of the national TV news channel, broadcasting a message calling on people to protest, which the network quickly dismissed as an 'irrelevant message'. Prominent internet monitoring organisation NetBlocks said the country had been witnessing significative disruptions since the conflict started. On Saturday, it said partial internet service resumed after a 62-hour government-imposed shutdown. These blackouts severely 'limit the public's ability to express political viewpoints, communicate freely and follow safety alerts amid continuing conflict with Israel,' said the organisation. While Iran blocks access to many foreign websites, social media and messaging apps, a wider range of websites were unreachable this week. The slowdown has also reportedly disrupted tools such as virtual private networks (VPNs), which many rely on to access international content. 'This was the worst internet shutdown we've ever experienced in Iran,' Amir Rashidi, director of cybersecurity and digital rights at Miaan Group. 'Usually, they block access from inside the country to the outside. But in this case, we had no access both ways. We have never had this kind of shutdown before. It meant we had zero visibility into what was happening inside the country.' He said VPNs were restricted, and phone calls from outside Iran were completely blocked, although calls within the country still worked. 'There's been some improvement starting today [June 21],' he added. 'But there's still fear it could come back at any time.' Currently, there's a 'whitelisting' system in place, with only a limited list of websites accessible both inside and outside Iran. 'It's unclear what the exact policy is or how these websites are chosen,' he said. A 'concerning' pattern Human rights organisations have denounced the move to restrict internet as part of a 'concerning' trend. 'We are deeply worried about the nature and scale of the shutdown, which only adds to the distress of people already grappling with … uncertainty,' Hussein Baoumi, the Middle East and North Africa deputy regional director at Amnesty International, told The National. 'Restricting access to platforms like WhatsApp and other communication tools prevents people from obtaining potentially life-saving information, including warnings about bombings. ' Iranian authorities have cut off internet access at other critical periods in the past. In 2019, Tehran completely shut down access for six days during nationwide protests that reportedly led to the deaths of more than 100 people amid a violent crackdown by security forces. 'The shutdown also serves to control what can be shared on social media, particularly anything that might challenge the government. We've raised concerns about this pattern in the past,' said Mr Baoumi. Abbas, another Iranian expatriate living in Europe, said that blackouts occur every time there is unrest in the country. For him, this reveals the government's true intentions behind the current restrictions. 'As soon as there are protests, they cut the internet so people can't communicate, film or share information. They cut it to limit communication with the Iranian diaspora, to block access to information from abroad,' he said. 'They cut it because they're afraid of the people,' he added.
