Iranians are protesting to demand justice, highlighting the death of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by morality police and subsequently died under suspicious circumstances in Tehran hospital.
Mike Kemp | In pictures via Getty Images
Iranians are turning to virtual private networks to circumvent widespread internet disruptions as the government tries to cover up its crackdown on mass protests.
According to data from internet surveillance companies Cloudflare and NetBlocks, the first outages in Iran’s telecom networks began on September 19 and have been going on for two and a half weeks.
Internet surveillance groups and digital rights activists say they are seeing curfew-style network disruptions every day, with access throttled from around 4pm. local time until late at night.
Tehran blocked access to WhatsApp and Instagram, two of the last uncensored social media services in Iran. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and several other platforms have been banned for years.
As a result, Iranians are flocking to VPNs, services that encrypt and redirect their traffic to a remote server somewhere else in the world, to hide their online activity. This allowed them to reestablish connections to restricted websites and apps.
On September 22, a day after WhatsApp and Instagram were banned, demand for VPN services increased by 2,164% compared to the previous 28 days, according to figures from Top10VPN, a VPN review and research site.
By September 26, demand peaked at 3,082% above average and has since remained high at 1,991% above normal levels, according to Top10VPN.
“Social media plays a crucial role in protests around the world,” Simon Migliano, head of research at Top10VPN, told CNBC. “It allows protesters to organize and ensure that authorities cannot control the narrative and suppress evidence of human rights abuses.”
“The Iranian authorities’ decision to block access to these platforms when the protests erupted has skyrocketed demand for VPNs,” he added.
Demand is much higher than during the 2019 riots, which were sparked by rising fuel prices and led to a near-total 12-day internet blackout. According to Migliano, peak demand at the time was only around 164% higher than usual.
Nationwide protests against Iran’s strict Islamic dress code began on September 16 following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman. Amini died in suspicious circumstances after being arrested and allegedly beaten by Iran’s so-called “morality police” for wearing her hijab too loosely. Iranian authorities denied any wrongdoing and claimed that Amini died of a heart attack.
At least 154 people, including children, were killed in the protests, according to the non-governmental organization Iran Human Rights. The government has reported 41 deaths. Tehran has tried to prevent the sharing of images of its crackdown and obstruct communications aimed at organizing further demonstrations.
Iran’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment.
Will my cell phone work in Iran?
If you are one of those travelers who plan to use your mobile phone for more than 30 days or if you are traveling here a second time with the same mobile phone, you need to register your mobile phone in Iran. Also, you need to pay a registration fee which depends on the model and ROM of your mobile phone.
How do I activate my cell phone in Iran? How to activate your device. Now you need to activate your phone with the activation code. In this step you can dial with the code *7777# and enter the number 2 which is the activation option in the list. Then you must also enter and send the IMEI code.
What cell phones work in Iran?
Most mobile phone brands work in Iran. The most popular are Samsung, Nokia, LG and others. You can also buy one here, but I recommend buying in your country.
Can I take my iPhone to Iran?
It is illegal to give or sell an iPhone to anyone with the intention of bringing it to Iran or attempting to ship one to Iran. Apple services are not available in Iran. Legally, you cannot even create or use an Apple ID in Iran.
What is forbidden in Iran?
Homosexual behavior, adultery and extramarital sex are illegal under Iranian law and carry the death penalty. Before you travel, check out our LGBT community information and advice page. Women’s magazines and DVDs or videos depicting sexual relationships are prohibited. Occasionally there are fights.
Is music not allowed in Iran? After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, music was criminalized in Iran. Western songs were banned, record shops disappeared and concert halls fell silent. Anyone caught playing music deemed “un-Islamic” could be fined, whipped or imprisoned for “causing corruption on earth” under Iranian law.
Is YouTube banned in Iran?
Iranian government and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Sepah are also blocking several social media and communication platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Telegram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Instagram, Medium. The government is also blocking some streaming services, including Netflix and Hulu.
Are films banned in Iran?
No filmmaker in Iran is immune to the pressures of censorship. Films shot in the country must be approved by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance not only for distribution purposes but also for filming permits.
Is WhatsApp allowed in Iran?
While Twitter and Facebook were banned in Iran years ago, Instagram and WhatsApp remained one of the few accessible social media platforms in the country.
Why do Iranian women cut hair?
Amid protests across Iran, many women across the country have embraced the political symbolism of haircuts – both a statement against oppression and the rules of compulsory hijab for women and an act of defiance in honor of Amini, who was arrested for allegedly violating the modesty laws of the country Islamic Republic.
Can you wear makeup in Iran? Heavy eyeliner, highlighter and vibrant lipstick colors are also perfectly acceptable in Iran. Wearing makeup is very common among women of all ages and even more common in big cities. If you like applying makeup, you can be sure that you will be blinded, so feel free to bring your makeup kit.
How are women treated in Iran?
In several areas of their lives, including marriage, divorce, employment and culture, Iranian women are either restricted or require permission from their husbands or paternal guardians, depriving them of their autonomy and human dignity.
Why do Iranian women cut their hair?
Cutting hair is culturally symbolic in Iran and was used in ancient Persian literature as a sign of protest, anger, or sadness.
What is not allowed in Iran?
Satellite dishes and many Western CDs and films remain illegal. The importation, sale, production and consumption of alcohol in Iran is strictly prohibited for religious reasons, with exceptions only for certain recognized Iranian religious minorities (no foreigners).
Which religion is not allowed in Iran? Iran’s constitution limits the number of recognized non-Islamic religions to three – Zoroastrians, Jews and Christians – and the laws of the Islamic Republic prohibit atheism and conversion of Muslims to any other religion.
What is considered rude in Iran?
If someone offers you something (e.g. tea, sweets), first, out of politeness, decline before accepting. It’s impolite to put your feet on the table. Burping and sniffing in front of others is considered rude. One should not touch people of the opposite sex unless they are very close family members or friends.
Does Iran allow music?
A kind of music which is illegal in Iran determined by marja’ is among the forbidden things in Iran. Muslims believe that some musical sounds and instruments are harmful to the soul, especially the pieces of music composed to accompany the dance. Therefore, Iran’s official media has been banned from broadcasting this type of music.
What is banned in Iran?
Iran has strict regulations when it comes to internet censorship. The Iranian government and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps constantly block social media such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as many popular websites such as Blogger, HBO, YouTube and Netflix.
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