Public frustration is growing as the Iranian government has continued a sweeping internet shutdown for the seventh week since the outbreak of war, and the fallout spreads across the broader economy.
The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 13th (local time) that corporations and academia in Iran argue the move not only infringes on citizens' rights but also further destabilizes an already weakened economy.
The Iranian government imposed a total internet blackout on Feb. 28, immediately after the war began. Citing national security, it is the third time Iran has shut down the internet, following the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June last year and the anti-government protests early this year.
People are trying to access the internet using expensive virtual private networks (VPNs). But connections are difficult, making it hard even to obtain information about a war that involves their own country.
Amir Rashidi, a director at the Iranian human rights group "Mian Group," said, "Talking with people inside Iran, many do not fully know the scale of destruction or how events are unfolding," adding, "Their sources are limited to Iranian state television and some satellite channels."
The shutdown is dealing a heavy blow to Iran's economy, already sluggish under Western sanctions and war. The Iranian economic daily Donya-e-Eqtesad reported that the move has caused about $1.3 billion (about 2 trillion won) in economic losses. Hamidreza Amadi, a member of the Iran E-Commerce Association, said in an interview with a local outlet that "the livelihoods of about 10 million people could be threatened" by the crisis.
Merchants are demanding the swift restoration of the internet. Iranian businessman Pedram Soltani recently criticized the government's shutdown strongly on social media (SNS), saying, "The internet must be restored immediately. Small enterprises are collapsing."
Public anger is further fueled by the government allowing free internet access to pro-government figures included on a so-called "whitelist." In fact, Iranian military commanders, diplomats, and political leaders are posting messages criticizing or mocking the United States on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), which are banned domestically.
The internet watchdog NetBlocks said the Iranian shutdown had entered its 45th day, criticizing that "while regime figures and influencers on the whitelist post freely, 90 million people are being forced into silence."
Javadi Yeganeh, a sociologist at the University of Tehran, also wrote on X that "Iran's internet restrictions are discriminatory and humiliating," noting, "some have free access, while those who might require security restrictions are using it freely."