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Iran Plunges into Digital Darkness as Protests Intensify, Rights Groups Allege Brutality
TEHRAN – As widespread protests against the Iranian regime continue to escalate across the nation, a cybersecurity expert claims the government has pulled the plug on internet access, effectively creating a “kill switch” to conceal alleged abuses by security forces. This blackout has dramatically reduced internet connectivity, leaving Iranians largely cut off from the outside world.
Alp Toker, CEO of NetBlocks, described the drastic measure as “Iran’s war against its own population using digital means.” He explained that what began as a piecemeal effort has now enveloped the entire country, with the government demonstrating a willingness to maintain the internet shutdown for an extended period.
“There would be an attempt by the regime to cover up crimes that it may have committed, so this blackout could potentially last for days or weeks,” Toker stated.
The internet shutdown coincides with fierce accusations from human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, that the regime is employing lethal force against demonstrators. Human Rights Activists in Iran reported late Friday that at least 65 people have been killed in the protests, with the death toll more than doubling since earlier in the week. The group also estimates over 2,300 arrests and demonstrations spanning at least 180 cities nationwide, with the majority of fatalities being protesters.
Amnesty International condemned the regime’s actions, stating, “People in Iran daring to express their anger at decades of repression and demand fundamental change are once again being met with a deadly pattern of security forces unlawfully firing at, chasing, arresting and beating protesters.”
Toker elaborated on the “kill switch” mechanism, characterizing it as a centrally controlled censorship tool with no legal avenues for citizens to challenge it. “We know now that they’ve centralized all of this into a one-step operation,” he said, calling it “very much a top-down mechanism.” He further noted that this technology, in development since the Cold War, allows for the triangulation of ground terminals in satellite transmissions, a tactic often employed by highly authoritarian regimes.
NetBlocks has recorded the current blackout as one of the most severe in Iran’s history, with connectivity plummeting to less than 2% of normal levels. “This is a nationwide disruption that is impacting almost all services, all connectivity and all avenues of life, extending beyond just mobile phones and computers,” Toker explained. “It’s impacting banks, essential services, and there’s very little communication within the country, so people are unable to reach the outside world and nobody has the ability to communicate.”
Despite the sweeping restrictions, some limited communication channels reportedly remain. Toker mentioned the possibility of communicating near borders through cross-border Wi-Fi or mobile service, and rare instances of fixed-line service tunnels.
However, he acknowledged these options are becoming increasingly scarce. Access via satellite internet, such as the Starlink network, faces the hurdle of equipment being banned by the Iranian regime.
The cybersecurity expert highlighted that such measures are typically imposed by “the most authoritarian regimes, the most controlling governments that seek to silence and oppress their own populations.” He drew parallels to similar multi-week disruptions in 2019, during which thousands were killed, and in 2022 following the killing of Mahsa Amini.
“In this recent case, they pulled the plug, so there’s a far more extreme measure in place here, which suggests that the regime is scared and isn’t taking risks when it comes to the possibility of information reaching the outside world,” Toker concluded.
Former President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran’s leaders on Friday, cautioning against the use of force on protesters. Speaking to reporters, Trump stated, “I just hope the protesters in Iran are going to be safe, because that’s a very dangerous place right now. You’d better not start shooting, because we’ll start shooting, too.”
Toker emphasized the importance of continued international support for positive efforts, stating, “A free and open internet in Iran, and indeed in other countries, can encourage democracy and support basic liberties.”