Iran's Internet Blackout Persists Amid Escalating Protests and Crackdown

Nationwide Internet Blackout Enters Second Week

The Islamic Republic of Iran continues to experience a severe, state-imposed internet blackout, now extending into its second week. Connectivity across the country has plummeted to critically low levels, reportedly hovering between 1% and 2% of normal rates. This digital isolation began on January 8, 2026, following a period of escalating nationwide protests that originated in late December 2025.

The protests, which initially erupted on December 28, 2025, were fueled by deep-seated economic grievances, including currency devaluation and soaring living costs. These demonstrations have since expanded into widespread calls for significant political change.

Government's Stated Intent and Technical Measures

Authorities in Iran have historically implemented internet shutdowns during periods of unrest, and the current blackout is widely perceived as a deliberate measure to curb the spread of information, disrupt protest coordination, and obscure the scale of the government's response. Cybersecurity experts and monitoring organizations like NetBlocks and Cloudflare Radar have confirmed the near-total shutdown, noting that it is an 'engineered and intentional block' rather than a technical failure.

Technical analysis indicates that the shutdown involves sophisticated methods, including Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) route withdrawals, effectively removing Iran's internet address space from the global routing map. International bandwidth has also been deliberately throttled, with reductions reported up to 35%. While some routes are nominally announced to make the shutdown appear less abrupt externally, internal users remain largely disconnected.

Humanitarian Impact and International Condemnation

The internet blackout has severely hampered the ability of journalists and human rights advocates to report on events, making it exceedingly difficult to verify information regarding arrests, injuries, and fatalities. Reports from various sources suggest a brutal crackdown, with some estimates indicating thousands of people have been killed and many more arrested.

International bodies and human rights organizations have strongly condemned the ongoing internet shutdown and the use of force against protesters. The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran has urged authorities to immediately restore internet and mobile connectivity and adhere to international human rights law. Similarly, Amnesty International and Access Now have called for an end to the digital darkness, emphasizing that internet shutdowns conceal human rights violations and are a serious violation in themselves. The United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary also issued a statement condemning the 'horrendous and brutal killing of Iranian protestors' and demanding respect for fundamental rights.

Attempts at Circumvention and Government Counter-Measures

Despite the severe restrictions, some attempts to circumvent the blackout have been reported, including limited use of satellite internet services like Starlink. However, Iranian authorities have responded by seizing satellite dishes and deploying jamming equipment to disrupt signals, particularly in areas with intense protest activity. The government is also reportedly finalizing an 'internet kill switch' project, designed to completely disconnect the nation from the global internet for extended periods.