Iranians should be allowed to use the internet again

The Iranian internet blockade is set to be lifted on Tuesday – to what extent remains to be seen. For 28 February or 88 days, Iran has been offline, following an order from the country's National Security Council. At the time, this justified the total digital censorship with ongoing IT attacks that occurred parallel to the military attacks by the USA and Israel on Iran.

Information control was likely at least as important for the council: Without the internet, people in Iran could hardly inform themselves independently; conversely, information about the conditions in the country only penetrated outwards to a limited extent. On Monday, President Massud Peseschkian ordered the lifting of the internet blockade. However, this could escalate into a new instrument of control under the term "Internet Pro".

According to the news channel Iran International, the president is basing the opening order on a recommendation from Iran's Supreme Council of Cyberspace. The news channel, financed by the Saudi royal family, states that the Iranian rulers are divided on lifting the internet blockade.

Leadership circles are divided

Initially, the Fars news agency, close to the Revolutionary Guards, raised doubts about the legality of the president's order. Since the National Security Council had imposed the blockade, only this body could lift it again. Hours later, however, Fars relativized the criticism and described the step as "necessary" and something that would "sooner or later" happen anyway.

According to a report by the daily newspaper Faraz, the Supreme Council of Cyberspace was also divided. Three of the twelve voters were reportedly in favor of continuing the internet blockade. In particular, the head of state broadcasting and the secretary of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace appointed by the president strongly advocated for total digital censorship, but President Peseschkian was in favor of lifting the blockade.

"Internet Pro" as expensive class censorship?

Iran International reports on plans for class-based censorship under the designation "Internet Pro". Internet access could thus be reserved as a privilege for regime-loyal citizens. Different access packages are planned, depending on the person, their profession, and official approval.

For example, doctors might have access to Youtube, presumably for further training, but not to Instagram. Business people might then have access to Instagram, probably for advertising purposes, but nothing else.

Circumventing restrictions using Starlink or virtual private networks (VPN) is not ruled out, but, because it is forbidden, it is life-threatening and expensive. Prices have multiplied since the start of the war. Not least, the state-affiliated network operators could also make a fortune with "Internet Pro". After all, many devices, including medical ones, rely on internet access today, so their users could be extorted high prices for suitable internet access.

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