Iran's Internet Blackout: A Dangerous Tactic Amid Israeli Bombings
For years, the Iranian regime has systematically built the technological infrastructure necessary to exert significant control over its citizens' access to the internet. This control extends to the ability to censor content, throttle connections, and even implement nationwide shutdowns. This capability has been demonstrated repeatedly during periods of internal unrest. In 2019, for instance, the country plunged into darkness online as authorities sought to quell widespread protests, effectively silencing dissent and limiting the flow of information. Similarly, in 2022, following the tragic death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody, internet connectivity, particularly for platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram, was severely disrupted as protests erupted across the nation. Each instance of a shutdown not only deprives the population of crucial information but also inflicts significant economic costs, disrupting businesses and daily life.
Now, as the long-simmering shadow conflict between Israel and Iran has escalated into direct exchanges of fire, internet connections within Iran have once again become a casualty. These self-imposed restrictions are limiting people's ability to access vital information about the conflict's progression, potential dangers, and safety measures, while simultaneously hindering their capacity to connect with loved ones who may be in harm's way.
The Recent Wave of Disruptions
The latest wave of internet disruptions began almost immediately after Israel's Air Force conducted bombings targeting sites within Iran on June 13. This action marked a significant escalation in hostilities. Shortly after the strikes, reports of intentional internet disruptions inside Iran started to surface. Iran's Ministry of Communication, as reported by the semi-official state news agency Tasnim, acknowledged the imposition of “temporary restrictions,” citing the “special conditions” the country was facing. Since that initial exchange, the conflict has continued, with both sides trading fire and the stakes continually rising. The geopolitical tension is further amplified by statements from figures like former US president Donald Trump, who has indicated potential support for further Israeli actions against Iranian nuclear facilities.
Internet monitoring firms quickly corroborated the reports of significant connectivity drops. Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at Kentik, noted a substantial 54 percent decrease in internet connectivity across Iran on June 13. This initial drop was followed by further degradation. Days later, on June 17, connectivity saw an additional 49 percent decline from the already reduced levels. The situation remained volatile; after a brief restoration of services, connectivity plummeted again on Wednesday by another 90 percent. Madory documented these events, stating on BlueSky that “Numerous Iranian service providers [are] now offline in second national Internet blackout in as many days.” The restrictions have impacted multiple internet companies and service providers throughout the country, including major cell providers, as observed by monitoring platforms like Cloudflare Radar.
Researchers working on internet freedom initiatives have also reported a dramatic worsening of the situation. A researcher with Project Ainita, who chose to remain anonymous due to safety concerns, described the situation as having gone into “overdrive.” They noted that for a second consecutive day, international connectivity had been severed, and this time the restrictions were even more severe, impacting domestic news sites as well. Other monitoring efforts, including Cloudflare Radar and Netblocks, have documented these multiple, successive shutdowns. Netblocks characterized the most recent disruption as a “near-total” blackout. Confirming the official stance, Iranian news agency Khabar posted on its Telegram channel, citing the Ministry of Communications, that international internet access had been “temporarily restricted to prevent enemy abuse.”
Beyond simply cutting off access, Iran has reportedly taken further steps to control information flow and communication. There have been reports that officials were instructed to cease using internet-connected devices. Furthermore, state sources have allegedly claimed that citizens should delete WhatsApp, a platform that has previously implemented features designed to help users circumvent censorship efforts. Government officials have also publicly stated that the purpose of these widespread shutdowns is to prevent potential cyberattacks. However, the broad and severe nature of these measures has left ordinary people in Iran struggling immensely to communicate with each other and to obtain reliable, timely information about the unfolding conflict. These connectivity issues are particularly critical at a time when figures like Donald Trump have publicly suggested that the nearly 10 million residents of the Iranian capital, Tehran, should “immediately evacuate” the area.
The Human Cost: Jeopardizing Civilian Safety
The primary victims of these internet blackouts are the Iranian civilians caught in the middle of the escalating conflict. Access to information and the ability to communicate are not luxuries; they are vital lifelines during a crisis, especially when facing the threat of airstrikes. Mahsa Alimardani, a digital rights analyst of Iranian origin and associate director at Witness, an international human rights nonprofit focused on technology and threats, emphasizes the regime's core motivation. “This extensive censorship and internet disruption primarily serve the regime’s goal of maintaining control, especially over information,” Alimardani states. She highlights the direct danger posed by these actions: “These internet blocks are jeopardizing people’s safety mainly in Tehran.”
The practical implications for civilians are severe. Alimardani notes that mobile data services appear to be highly unreliable, and crucially, many of the virtual private networks (VPNs) that Iranians typically use to bypass state censorship have stopped functioning. This makes it incredibly difficult, if not impossible, for people inside the country to reach out to the outside world or even connect reliably with others internally. It also hinders the ability of those outside Iran to get accurate information about the situation on the ground and the safety of their loved ones. Alimardani shared a poignant example: “Some family that left Tehran today were offline and disconnected from the internet and finally found some connectivity when they were 200 kilometers outside of Tehran in another province.” Even for those relying on home broadband Wi-Fi, which might be expected to be more stable than mobile data, connectivity has been inconsistent.
Hanna Kreitem, director of internet technology and development at the Internet Society, which has been tracking the blackouts in Iran, echoes the sentiment that the internet is a critical lifeline in conflict zones. Kreitem recounted hearing from people with relatives in Iran that their services slowed dramatically when the connectivity drops began on June 13. “People under fire use it to get news, request help, learn of safer areas, and communicate with loved ones,” Kreitem explains. “And for people outside to learn about what is going on and know about their loved ones.” Cutting off this access during a period of potential bombings and evacuation calls is not merely an inconvenience; it is a direct threat to civilian safety, preventing them from receiving warnings, coordinating with family, or seeking assistance.
Iran's Digital Fortress: The National Information Network (NIN)
The current internet restrictions are not isolated incidents but rather manifestations of Iran's long-term strategy to create a controlled domestic internet space. For over a decade, the country has been actively developing its own intranet system, known as the National Information Network (NIN). The NIN is designed to function as an alternative to the global internet, allowing the government to filter, censor, and control online activity within the country's borders. According to analysis by Freedom House, an organization that tracks internet freedom globally, the NIN enables the government to implement “tiers” of internet access, effectively creating a walled garden where international connectivity can be easily restricted or cut off entirely, while domestic services remain accessible.
A key aspect of the NIN strategy is to steer Iranians towards home-grown applications and services. This push is particularly evident during periods of international internet restriction. Messaging apps, social media platforms, and news sites hosted within Iran's domestic network are prioritized and remain functional even when access to global platforms is severed. While the government promotes these domestic alternatives, concerns about their security and privacy features are significant. Freedom House's analysis highlights that these Iranian apps may have “weak privacy and security features,” making users vulnerable to surveillance and data collection by the state. Freedom House's most recent report on internet freedom rates Iran as “not free,” specifically citing persistent shutdowns, increasing costs of internet access, and the deliberate efforts to push citizens onto the domestic internet as key concerns.
Amir Rashidi, the director of digital rights and security at the Iran-focused human rights organization Miaan Group, has observed increased efforts to promote Iranian apps during the recent blackouts. Rashidi notes the difficult position this puts citizens in: “In a climate of fear, where people are simply trying to stay connected with loved ones, many are turning to these insecure platforms out of desperation.” He specifically mentioned a messaging app called Bale as one that appears to be gaining attention during this period. Rashidi explained to WIRED that because these domestic apps are hosted on the NIN, they continue to function even when international internet access is shut down, making them the only viable option for communication for many.
This strategy of promoting potentially insecure domestic platforms while restricting access to global, more secure alternatives like WhatsApp or Telegram (which is often blocked but accessible via VPNs when the internet is open) creates a dangerous dilemma for Iranian users. They are forced to choose between silence and using platforms where their communications and data may be easily monitored by the authorities. This further solidifies the regime's control over the information landscape and limits the space for private, secure communication.
Internet Shutdowns: A Global Phenomenon of Control
Iran is far from the only country to employ internet shutdowns as a tool of state control. Over the past decade, the practice of fully or partially restricting internet connectivity for citizens during times of perceived crisis has become increasingly common and severe globally. According to Access Now, an internet rights nonprofit that meticulously tracks these incidents, there were a staggering 296 internet shutdowns recorded last year alone. This represents the highest number ever documented, indicating a worrying global trend.
These shutdowns are frequently linked to the actions of repressive governments seeking to maintain power and suppress dissent. They are often implemented during protests or political demonstrations to limit people's ability to organize, communicate freely, and share information with the outside world. Internet blackouts are also used in conflict zones, as seen in Iran, and sometimes even deployed in attempts to prevent cheating during national exams, demonstrating the diverse pretexts used to justify cutting off connectivity.
The justifications offered by governments for implementing shutdowns often involve national security or public order. However, digital rights advocates and experts argue that the primary motivation is almost always control and censorship. By disrupting the internet, authorities can prevent the spread of information that contradicts the official narrative, hinder independent reporting, and make it difficult for opposition groups or activists to mobilize. The increasing frequency and duration of these shutdowns worldwide highlight a growing challenge to the principle of a free and open internet.
The Cybersecurity Justification: A Closer Look
One of the justifications offered by the Iranian government for the recent internet restrictions is the need to prevent potential cyberattacks. However, cybersecurity experts largely dismiss this as the primary or effective reason for implementing widespread internet blackouts affecting the general population. Lukasz Olejnik, an independent consultant and visiting senior research fellow at King's College London's Department of War Studies, points out that internet shutdowns are “largely ineffective against real-world state-level cyberattacks.”
Olejnik explains that critical infrastructure systems, such as energy grids, transportation networks, or military command systems, are typically designed to operate on isolated or highly protected networks that are not directly accessible from the public internet. Professional state-sponsored cyber operations targeting such critical systems would likely employ sophisticated methods of access that do not rely on the general public's internet connectivity. While a shutdown might make it more difficult for attackers to command and control certain types of malware that rely on public internet communication, it would not fundamentally prevent a determined state actor from launching or executing a significant cyberattack against critical targets.
Instead, Olejnik argues, the main consequence of such widespread internet restrictions is blocking “access to information for the society.” Witness's Mahsa Alimardani agrees, stating that the technical details supporting the claim that restrictions are for cybersecurity are “unclear.” She reiterates that the ultimate goal is likely the control of the population within Iran.
The official narrative disseminated through state news channels often portrays a strong, victorious stance against Israel. Free and open access to diverse sources of information, including international media and citizen reports, would inevitably challenge or undermine this carefully constructed narrative. At worst, from the regime's perspective, uncensored information could potentially galvanize public discontent and incite further protests or even revolt, thereby eroding the regime's power. Thus, the internet blackouts serve as a crucial tool in the regime's efforts to manage public perception, suppress potential dissent, and maintain its grip on power during a period of heightened external conflict.
Navigating the Darkness: Challenges and Resilience
For Iranians facing these repeated and severe internet blackouts, the challenges are immense. The inability to access reliable news sources means they are often left in the dark about the true extent of the conflict, the locations of strikes, or official safety instructions. Communication with family and friends becomes sporadic and unreliable, adding layers of anxiety and fear during an already terrifying time. The economic impact, while secondary to safety concerns during bombings, is also significant, disrupting livelihoods and access to essential services that increasingly rely on online connectivity.
Efforts to circumvent censorship, such as using VPNs or proxy tools offered by platforms like WhatsApp, are constantly battling against the state's evolving technical controls. The current “near-total” blackouts suggest that the regime has become more effective at blocking these circumvention methods, leaving fewer options for citizens to connect to the global internet or even secure domestic networks.
Despite the technical barriers, the desire for information and connection persists. The reliance on domestic apps like Bale, while potentially insecure, highlights the desperate need for communication channels. The reports from researchers like those at Project Ainita and Miaan Group, who manage to maintain some contact with people inside Iran, underscore the resilience of individuals seeking to share their experiences and access information, even under extreme duress.
Conclusion: The Dangerous Intersection of Conflict and Censorship
The internet blackouts imposed by the Iranian regime amid escalating Israeli bombings represent a dangerous intersection of external conflict and internal control. While the government cites security concerns, the evidence and expert analysis suggest that these measures are primarily aimed at controlling the flow of information, suppressing potential dissent, and pushing citizens onto a monitored domestic network. This strategy, embodied by the National Information Network (NIN), has been years in the making and is now being deployed with severe consequences for the civilian population.
The human cost of these digital restrictions is profound. By limiting access to vital information and communication tools, the blackouts directly endanger civilians during a time of potential airstrikes and evacuation calls. They isolate individuals, fuel fear and uncertainty, and hinder the ability to seek safety or connect with loved ones. Furthermore, the push towards potentially insecure domestic apps exposes users to increased surveillance risks.
The global trend of increasing internet shutdowns, documented by organizations like Access Now, highlights a broader challenge to digital rights and freedom of expression worldwide. Iran's actions serve as a stark reminder of how internet control can be weaponized by governments, particularly in times of crisis, under the guise of security. As the conflict between Israel and Iran continues to unfold, the restoration of open and reliable internet access for Iranian citizens is not just a matter of digital freedom; it is a critical component of their safety and well-being.