'Plausible and terrifying': Iran planning permanent break from global internet

Iran is planning to permanently break from the global internet, only allowing individuals vetted by the regime to connect online, according to Iranian digital rights activists.

- Aisha Down

Protests in London against Iran's internet shutdown, which is now one of the most severe in history

(MATTHEW CHATTLE/FUTURE PUBLISHING/GETTY)

“A confidential plan is under way to turn international internet access into a ‘governmental privilege’,” said areport from Filterwatch, an organisation monitoring Iran’s internet censorship, citing multiple sources currently in Iran.

“State media and government spokespersons have already signalled that this is a permanent shift, warning that unrestricted access will not return after 2026.”

Under this plan, Iranians who have security clearance or pass government checks will have access to a filtered version of the global internet, said Amir Rashidi, leader of Filterwatch. All other Iranians will beallowed toaccess only the national internet: a domestic, parallel internet cut off from the broader world.

Iran’s continuing internet shutdown began on 8 January after 12 days of escalating anti-regime protests. Thousands of people have now been killed, although demonstrations appear to have slowed yesterday under the weight of a brutal crackdown by the regime.

Only limited information is filtering out of the country because of the blackout, which is now one of the most severe internet shutdowns in history, longer than Egypt’s 2011 internet shutdown during the Tahrir Square protests. A government spokesperson reportedly told Iranian media that the international internet will be shut off until at least Nowruz (Persian new year) on 20 March.