A rise in fuel prices in Iran has sparked massive protests. The government has declared a total internet shutdown to filter information and try to stop the protests.
Iran is attempting an all too familiar tactic to thwart the protests: cutting the lines of communication. The Iranian government has shut down nearly all internet access in the country amid mounting protests that began with a 50 percent increase in fuel prices and now span a wider difference. There are hotspots that have allowed people to show what is happening on the ground, but they are rare. Telephone calls abroad still work, but they are also closely monitored.
The government has not formally recognized the internet shutdown.
As in past cases of internet blackouts across the country, Iran is trying to control both the protests and the global impression of what is happening. In theory, this reduces the chances of protesters organizing themselves and posing a greater threat to the country's rulers. At the same time, it becomes much more difficult to share news and illustrate the scope of the protests. This makes talking about local events more difficult and you have to resort to means that favor the government. By not being able to access local media, getting a global vision becomes almost impossible without risking physical integrity.
Unfortunately, this appears to be part of a larger global trend . Both India and Pakistan have shut down internet access in the volatile territory of Kashmir in recent months, while Russia recently granted itself the power to shut down the internet at will. Internet shutdowns are rapidly becoming weapons, and that is unlikely to change unless those in government change.
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