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 Facebook, X, and YouTube, blocked since 2009. Presidential adviser Ali Rabiei remarked on X, “The restrictions have achieved nothing but anger and added costs to people’s lives.” Lawmakers Voice Concerns However, opposition to the move persists. As of now, platforms like Facebook and YouTube remain blocked, and the timeline for unrestricted access to WhatsApp and Google Play is yet to be determined.

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History of this topic

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 …

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 …

U.S. calls on Big Tech to help evade online censors in Russia, Iran
4 months ago

U.S. calls on Big Tech to help evade online censors in Russia, Iran

The Hindu  

The White House, aiming to persuade U.S. tech giants to offer more digital bandwidth for government-funded internet censorship evasion tools, held a meeting with representatives of Amazon.com, Alphabet's Google, Microsoft, Cloudflare and others on Thursday. The pitch to tech companies was to help offer discounted or heavily subsidised server bandwidth to meet the fast-growing demand for virtual private network applications …

US calls on Big Tech to help evade online censors in Russia, Iran
4 months ago

US calls on Big Tech to help evade online censors in Russia, Iran

Hindustan Times  

* HT Image Meeting convened to call on tech giants to grant more server bandwidth to support VPNs * VPN demand in Russia and Iran has quadrupled in recent years * Washington-based OTF struggles to meet demand despite increased funding from US State Department By James Pearson Sept 5 - The White House convened a meeting with representatives of Amazon.com, …

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 …

US sanctions Iranian firm for helping government censor internet
1 year, 7 months ago

US sanctions Iranian firm for helping government censor internet

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The U.S. imposed sanctions on …

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 …

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 …

Musk to seek exemption from Iran sanctions for Web access
2 years, 3 months ago

Musk to seek exemption from Iran sanctions for Web access

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Elon Musk’s hope to operate his satellite internet firm in Iran requires permission from the Treasury Department, which said Tuesday it welcomes applications to support internet freedom in the country that is largely isolated from Wwestern economies. The Tesla CEO tweeted Monday that his satellite internet firm Starlink would seek permission to operate in Iran. A Treasury spokesperson, …

War censorship exposes Putin’s leaky internet controls
2 years, 9 months ago

War censorship exposes Putin’s leaky internet controls

Associated Press  

BOSTON — Long before waging war on Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin was working to make Russia’s internet a powerful tool of surveillance and social control akin to China’s so-called Great Firewall. U.S.-based Cogent, which provides a major “backbone” for internet traffic, has cut direct connections inside Russia but left open the pipes through subsidiaries of Russian network providers at exchanges …

War censorship exposes Putin's leaky internet controls
2 years, 9 months ago

War censorship exposes Putin's leaky internet controls

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. On the other, they're wary of helping stifle a …

YouTube bans Russia Today, Sputnik and connected Russian media channels in Europe
2 years, 10 months ago

YouTube bans Russia Today, Sputnik and connected Russian media channels in Europe

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. “Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, we’re blocking YouTube channels connected to RT and Sputnik across …

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 …

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, …

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 …

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 …

US sanctions Iran’s information minister over internet blackout
5 years, 1 month ago

US sanctions Iran’s information minister over internet blackout

Al Jazeera  

The blackout, which Iran has started rolling back, made it difficult for protesters to communicate. The United States has imposed sanctions on Iran‘s communications minister for his role in “widescale internet censorship”, a reference to a five-day-long nationwide shutdown meant to help stifle protests against fuel price hikes by Tehran. “Iran’s leaders know that a free and open internet exposes …

US sanctions Iran’s information minister over internet blackout
5 years, 1 month ago

US sanctions Iran’s information minister over internet blackout

Al Jazeera  

The blackout, which Iran has started rolling back, made it difficult for protesters to communicate. The United States has imposed sanctions on Iran‘s communications minister for his role in “widescale internet censorship”, a reference to a five-day-long nationwide shutdown meant to help stifle protests against fuel price hikes by Tehran. “Iran’s leaders know that a free and open internet exposes …

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 …

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