Internet access across Iran collapsed on Thursday amid widespread protests, according to multiple web monitoring firms.
Amir Rashidi, an Iranian cybersecurity researcher with the nonprofit Miaan Group reported that the country is experiencing near-total disconnection from the global internet. Doug
Madory, director of internet analysis at Kentik, which tracks global internet traffic confirmed that Iran has been in a near-total blackout since approximately 8 p.m. local time in Tehran.
Data from NetBlocks, Cloudflare, and IODA all showed sudden and significant drops in connectivity across the country. David Belson, head of data insight at Cloudflare, noted that while a small amount of traffic persists, Iran is effectively offline.
The blackout follows nationwide protests that began at the end of December after a steep decline in the national currency triggered shortages and rapid price increases. Some shops in Tehran’s traditional bazaar have reportedly remained closed for 11 days.
The government has responded to the unrest with violent crackdowns. Rashidi indicated that the internet shutdown is enforced by the Iranian authorities, who maintain strict control over the country’s online access.
Found this article interesting? Follow us on X(Twitter) ,Threads and FaceBook to read more exclusive content we post.
