Iran restores access to WhatsApp and Google Play after they were banned amid protests
2 weeks, 1 day ago

Iran restores access to WhatsApp and Google Play after they were banned amid protests

Associated Press  

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s government on Tuesday said it had lifted a ban on access to WhatsApp and Google Play after more than two years, the official IRNA news agency reported. The report said the country’s Supreme Council of Cyber Space made the decision in a meeting led by reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, who has vowed to remove restrictions on social media. Iran’s telecommunication minister Sattar Heshemi in a post on X called the decision a “first step” in removing restrictions and said “the path will continue” — indicating the possibility of unblocking other services. The ban on WhatsApp and Google Play was put in place in 2022 during mass protests against the government over the death of a woman held by the country’s morality police for allegedly violating the strictly enforced dress code.

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Iran To Ease Internet Restrictions By Allowing WhatsApp, Google Play Access: Report
Top News
2 weeks, 1 day ago

Iran To Ease Internet Restrictions By Allowing WhatsApp, Google Play Access: Report

ABP News  

Iranian authorities have reportedly approved lifting the ban on Meta's WhatsApp and Google Play, state media reported. “A positive majority vote has been reached to lift limitations on access to some popular foreign platforms such as WhatsApp and Google Play,” IRNA stated on Tuesday, reported Reuters. Strict Restrictions Iran has maintained strict controls over internet access, with several platforms, including …

Iran lifts ban on WhatsApp and Google Play – A turning point for internet freedom?
2 weeks, 1 day ago

Iran lifts ban on WhatsApp and Google Play – A turning point for internet freedom?

Live Mint  

Iran said it will start easing some of the world’s tightest internet restrictions by lifting its ban on WhatsApp and Google Play — a sign that authorities want to placate domestic opponents as the Islamic Republic faces major economic and foreign-policy challenges. Earlier on Tuesday, Iran’s Supreme Council of Cyberspace approved the lifting of blocks on “certain widely used foreign …

Iran lifts ban on WhatsApp, Google Play, week after pausing new hijab law
2 weeks, 1 day ago

Iran lifts ban on WhatsApp, Google Play, week after pausing new hijab law

Hindustan Times  

Iran has lifted the ban on Meta's messaging platform WhatsApp and Google Play, a first step to scale back internet restrictions, Reuters quoted the Iranian state media on Tuesday. "A positive majority vote has been reached to lift limitations on access to some popular foreign platforms such as WhatsApp and Google Play", Iran's official IRNA news agency said on Tuesday, …

Iran cyberspace council votes to lift ban on WhatsApp: State media
Top News
2 weeks, 2 days ago

Iran cyberspace council votes to lift ban on WhatsApp: State media

New Indian Express  

TEHRAN: Iran's top council responsible for safeguarding the internet voted Tuesday to lift a ban on the popular messaging application WhatsApp, which has been subject to restrictions for over two years, state media reported. "The ban on WhatsApp and Google Play was removed by unanimous vote of the members of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace," the official IRNA news agency …

Iranian hackers targeted WhatsApp accounts of staffers in Biden, Trump administrations, Meta says
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Iranian hackers targeted WhatsApp accounts of staffers in Biden, Trump administrations, Meta says

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The same Iranian hacking group believed to have targeted both the Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns tried to go after the WhatsApp accounts of staffers in the administrations of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, Meta Platforms said Friday. Meta said it discovered the network of hackers, who posed as tech support agents for companies including …

Meta bans Instagram, Facebook accounts of Iran's Khamenei for ‘violating’ content policy
11 months ago

Meta bans Instagram, Facebook accounts of Iran's Khamenei for ‘violating’ content policy

Hindustan Times  

Meta on Thursday said it had removed the Facebook and Instagram accounts of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for violating its content policy. "We have removed these accounts for repeatedly violating our Dangerous Organizations & Individuals policy," a Meta spokesperson told AFP. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Though Meta did not mention the Israel-Hamas war, the company has …

Iran wants to give Ronaldo a special SIM card to access unblocked internet
1 year, 3 months ago

Iran wants to give Ronaldo a special SIM card to access unblocked internet

Al Jazeera  

Some Iranians say it would be an insult and discrimination to offer Ronaldo services that citizens can’t access. Tehran, Iran – Iran wants to give Cristiano Ronaldo and other foreign football players who will soon travel to Tehran a special SIM card that will allow them to access the internet without restrictions – something Iranian citizens cannot do – which …

Russia fines WhatsApp for first time for not deleting banned content
1 year, 7 months ago

Russia fines WhatsApp for first time for not deleting banned content

The Hindu  

A Russian court on June 1 fined messenger service WhatsApp 3 million roubles for not deleting banned content, its first fine in Russia for that offence. Although WhatsApp's parent company Meta Platforms Inc was last year banned in Russia as an "extremist" organisation, the messenger app — which is widely popular in Russia — has not previously faced penalties for …

Protest-hit Iran says WhatsApp, Instagram to remain blocked
1 year, 11 months ago

Protest-hit Iran says WhatsApp, Instagram to remain blocked

Live Mint  

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi has vowed that WhatsApp and Instagram will remain blocked in the country, blaming the online platforms for stoking protests that started over four months ago. Raisi charged that the two platforms, owned by US internet giant Meta, "were at the root of the insecurity in the country during the recent riots", speaking on national television Tuesday …

Starlink: Iran protesters activate ‘close to 100’ illegal internet receivers, Elon Musk says
2 years ago

Starlink: Iran protesters activate ‘close to 100’ illegal internet receivers, Elon Musk says

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy There are close to 100 of SpaceX’s Starlink internet terminals operating in Iran, …

The US says it’s helping Iranians navigate a massive internet blackout. Activists say it’s too little, too late
2 years, 3 months ago

The US says it’s helping Iranians navigate a massive internet blackout. Activists say it’s too little, too late

CNN  

CNN — As protesters took to the streets of Iran following the death in detention of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman apprehended for apparently not wearing her hijab properly, videos of the uprising began to flood the internet. “They have removed WhatsApp and Instagram from local app stores, they have blocked our connection to Google Play store and App Store …

In protests over death of Mahsa Amini, internet is key to planning. Can Iran block access?
2 years, 3 months ago

In protests over death of Mahsa Amini, internet is key to planning. Can Iran block access?

LA Times  

A police motorcycle burns in Tehran during a protest on Sept. 19, 2022, over the death of a young woman in police custody. “In 2019, everybody was shocked authorities could impose a massive internet shutdown, but this time many predicted it would happen,” said Mahbod, a 27-year-old student at Tehran’s Sharif University. “Cheap ones you need to switch every three …

Elon Musk activating Starlink in Iran amid government's internet shutdown
2 years, 3 months ago

Elon Musk activating Starlink in Iran amid government's internet shutdown

Hindustan Times  

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said on Friday that he would activate the company's satellite internet service, Starlink in Iran amid massive protests in the country which have resulted in the government shutting down internet. Iran Anti- Hijab Protests: Elon Musk speaks during a press conference. As US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the United States took action "to …

Elon Musk greenlit to activate Starlink internet for Iranians
2 years, 3 months ago

Elon Musk greenlit to activate Starlink internet for Iranians

Al Jazeera  

Legal guidance by the American government on expanding internet services to Iranians was changed despite US sanctions on the country. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has been given the green light by the United States government to activate the satellite internet service Starlink to help Iranians protesting against the death of a woman in police custody. Azadeh Akbari, from the University …

US allows tech firms to boost internet access in Iran
2 years, 3 months ago

US allows tech firms to boost internet access in Iran

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — American tech firms will be allowed to expand their business in Iran, where most internet access has been cut off in response to anti-government protests, the Treasury Department said Friday. “As courageous Iranians take to the streets to protest the death of Mahsa Amini, the United States is redoubling its support for the free flow of information to …

WhatsApp says it is working to keep Iranians connected
2 years, 3 months ago

WhatsApp says it is working to keep Iranians connected

The Hindu  

Meta Platforms Inc.'s WhatsApp said on Thursday that it was working to keep users in Iran connected after the country restricted access to the app and social media platform Instagram. Iran on Wednesday restricted access to Instagram and WhatsApp, two of the last remaining social networks in the country, amid protests over the death of a woman in police custody, …

31 killed, several arrested: How Iran's protests continue to spread a week after woman's death in hijab arrest
2 years, 3 months ago

31 killed, several arrested: How Iran's protests continue to spread a week after woman's death in hijab arrest

Firstpost  

The protests over the death of an Iranian woman are the biggest in the Islamic Republic since the November 2019 unrest over fuel price rises, and are marked this time by the presence of large numbers of women Paris: Iran has been rocked by a week of protests over the death last week of a young woman, who was arrested …

No Instagram, Whatsapp in Iran as hijab protests grow: Internet curbs explained
2 years, 3 months ago

No Instagram, Whatsapp in Iran as hijab protests grow: Internet curbs explained

Hindustan Times  

Iran blocked access to Instagram and WhatsApp imposing drastic restrictions on internet access on Thursday. Iran Hijab Protests: Iranian demonstrators taking to the streets of the capital Tehran during a protest for Mahsa Amini. "In accordance with a decision by officials, it has no longer been possible to access Instagram in Iran since yesterday evening and access to WhatsApp is …

Iran restricts WhatsApp, Instagram as Mahsa Amini protests grow
2 years, 3 months ago

Iran restricts WhatsApp, Instagram as Mahsa Amini protests grow

Al Jazeera  

NetBlocks says the outage is the ‘most severe’ since the internet was blocked during 2019’s fuel protests. Iran has curbed access to social media networks Instagram and WhatsApp amid protests over the death of a woman in police custody, according to residents and internet watchdog NetBlocks. Last week’s death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by morality police in …

Internet restricted in Iran as officials work to crack down on spreading protests
2 years, 3 months ago

Internet restricted in Iran as officials work to crack down on spreading protests

ABC  

Internet access is being restricted in Iran as violent protests sparked by the death of a woman in police custody spread across the country, according to residents and global internet watchdog NetBlocks. Key points: WhatsApp and Instagram, the last remaining social media and messaging apps permitted in Iran, were blocked on Wednesday That was followed within hours by a widespread …

Iranians see widespread internet blackout amid mass protests
2 years, 3 months ago

Iranians see widespread internet blackout amid mass protests

Associated Press  

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iranians experienced a near-total internet blackout on Wednesday amid days of mass protests against the government over the death of a woman held by the country’s morality police for allegedly violating its strictly-enforced dress code. “We’re seeing internet service, including mobile data, being blocked in Iran in the past couple of hours,” Doug Madory, director …

Iranians see widespread internet outages amid mass protests over Mahsa Amini’s death
2 years, 3 months ago

Iranians see widespread internet outages amid mass protests over Mahsa Amini’s death

The Hindu  

Iranians experienced widespread internet outages on Wednesday amid days of mass protests against the government, including a loss of access to Instagram and WhatsApp, two of the last Western social media platforms available in the country. “We’re seeing internet service, including mobile data, being blocked in Iran in the past couple of hours,” Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at …

Iranians fear new bill will restrict internet even further
3 years, 5 months ago

Iranians fear new bill will restrict internet even further

Associated Press  

TEHRAN, Iran — For Ali Hedieloo, a 40-year-old making wooden furniture in Iran’s capital, Instagram is more than just a surfeit of glossy images. Iran moved last week toward further government restrictions on Instagram and other apps, as hard-line lawmakers agreed to discuss a bill that many fear will undermine communication, wipe out livelihoods and open the door to the …

Mobile internet disruptions seen in Iran amid water protests
3 years, 5 months ago

Mobile internet disruptions seen in Iran amid water protests

Associated Press  

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Mobile phone internet service in Iran is being disrupted a week into protests in the country’s southwest over water shortages, a monitoring group said Thursday, unrest that has seen at least three people killed. Internet-access advocacy group NetBlocks.org attributed part of the disruption to “state information controls or targeted internet shutdowns.” It identified the outages …

If India ever bans WhatsApp, it will join the list of countries including North Korea, China
3 years, 7 months ago

If India ever bans WhatsApp, it will join the list of countries including North Korea, China

India Today  

WhatsApp’s tussle with the Indian government intensified after the former dragged the government to court over its new IT rules. The government has called WhatsApp’s refusal to comply with the new IT rules a “clear act of defiance.” The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology explained its stance behind asking WhatsApp to track the first originator of the information. The …

WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter banned in Pakistan: Know why
3 years, 8 months ago

WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter banned in Pakistan: Know why

India TV News  

Pakistan Government has announced a ban on some social media platforms including WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. This comes amid fears that activists of a radical Islamist group might use the technology to stoke violent protests against last year's depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in France. Followers of far-right Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan, a group that supports the country's controversial blasphemy laws, …

WhatsApp can be banned in India after new rules if it refuses to dilute privacy protection
3 years, 10 months ago

WhatsApp can be banned in India after new rules if it refuses to dilute privacy protection

India Today  

The government of India on Thursday announced the all-new Information Technology Rules 2021, which include intermediary guidelines and a digital media ethics code. This means that platforms like WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram and others that use end-to-end encryption for messages may have to break it to comply with the government's new rule. Announcing the new Information Technology Rules 2021, Union Ministers …

Iran’s president criticizes prosecution of telecom minister
3 years, 11 months ago

Iran’s president criticizes prosecution of telecom minister

Associated Press  

TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday criticized Iran’s hard-liner dominated judiciary over last week’s prosecution of the countrys telecommunications minister. Judiciary officials cited his refusal to block Instagram and impose limitations on the bandwidth of other foreign social media and messaging systems. Under pressure from hard-liners, the Iranian government has long blocked access to many websites and …

Turkey Suspends New WhatsApp Policy Rules, Opens Investigation
3 years, 11 months ago

Turkey Suspends New WhatsApp Policy Rules, Opens Investigation

ABP News  

Turkey's Competition Authority on Monday opened an investigation into Facebook and WhatsApp and suspended their new data-sharing rules. The online instant messaging application WhatsApp, last week forced its users to accept new privacy rules for sharing personal data with Facebook companies. The app could not be used unless the terms were accepted, the authority said in a statement.According to reports, …

Facebook says it dismantles disinformation network tied to Iran's state media
4 years, 8 months ago

Facebook says it dismantles disinformation network tied to Iran's state media

Firstpost  

Facebook said it had removed eight networks in recent weeks, including one with links to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Corporation. Iran’s state broadcaster has used hundreds of fake social media accounts to covertly spread pro-Iranian messaging online since at least 2011, targeting voters in countries including Britain and the United States, Facebook said on Tuesday. In a monthly …

Iran orders punishment for Instagram couple in exile for their posts
4 years, 8 months ago

Iran orders punishment for Instagram couple in exile for their posts

Op India  

A couple from Iran, Ahmad Moin-Shirazi and Shabnam Shahrokhi, has been sentenced to a total of 16 years in prison, 74 lashes and three months of unpaid labour in absentia by the Iranian court, for posting “propaganda against the regime”, “obscene and vulgar” content and “spreading moral corruption” through their popular Instagram account, reported the Iranian new channel Radio Farda. …

After internet blackout, Iranians take stock
5 years, 1 month ago

After internet blackout, Iranians take stock

Al Jazeera  

With online access restored, businesses, students and crypto-enthusiasts process the implications of online cutoff. The restoration of internet access, which started late last week, has been greeted with relief by millions, while the country’s information minister has reassured the public that the government values global online access. by Iran Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi ‘National …

After internet blackout, Iranians take stock
5 years, 1 month ago

After internet blackout, Iranians take stock

Al Jazeera  

With online access restored, businesses, students and crypto-enthusiasts process the implications of online cutoff. The restoration of internet access, which started late last week, has been greeted with relief by millions, while the country’s information minister has reassured the public that the government values global online access. by Iran Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi ‘National …

Iran loosens internet restrictions after protest shutdown
5 years, 1 month ago

Iran loosens internet restrictions after protest shutdown

Al Jazeera  

Internet access ‘gradually being restored’ as cyberspace official says the country will have full access in two days. A top cyberspace security official in Iran told journalists on Thursday he believed the country’s internet would be fully turned on “within the next two days”. Death toll dispute Amnesty International said on Tuesday more than 100 demonstrators had been killed by …

The ‘largest internet shutdown ever’ in Iran is happening now. Here’s what you need to know
5 years, 1 month ago

The ‘largest internet shutdown ever’ in Iran is happening now. Here’s what you need to know

CNN  

CNN — Iran has gone almost entirely offline as authorities try to stem the spread of nationwide protests that have gripped the country since Friday. Oracle’s Internet Intelligence called it the “largest internet shutdown ever observed in Iran.” In other countries where nationwide protests have rattled the political elite – such as Iraq and Lebanon – social media has played …

Sri Lanka lifts ban on Facebook, WhatsApp days after terrorist attacks
5 years, 8 months ago

Sri Lanka lifts ban on Facebook, WhatsApp days after terrorist attacks

India Today  

The Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday revoked the temporary ban placed on the social media platforms including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Twitter within the country following the terrorist attacks that killed over 250 people and injured over 500 others. Upon revoking the ban, the the head of the department, Nalaka Kaluwewa in a statement to EFE said that …

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