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Monitoring groups have reported that connectivity has plummeted to less than 2% of normal levels, effectively isolating Iranian citizens from the global community
This internet blackout is a major part of the crackdown on widespread protests against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the ruling establishment. (Image: AFP/File)
Amid nationwide unrest in Iran, the internet shutdown by the government is still in place and has now lasted more than 60 hours.
“The censorship measure presents a direct threat to the safety and wellbeing of Iranians at a key moment for the country’s future,” monitor Netblocks wrote in a post on Sunday.
This internet blackout is a major part of the crackdown on widespread protests against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the ruling establishment. Monitoring groups have reported that connectivity has plummeted to less than 2 percent of normal levels, effectively isolating Iranian citizens from the global community.
Cybersecurity experts described this systematic disruption as a “digital kill switch” or an “internet kill switch”, which is intended to conceal potential human rights abuses and prevent footage of violent crackdowns from reaching international media. These restrictions are being highlighted as being among the most severe in Iran’s history and has sharply curtailed people from communicating and sharing information.
“This is Iran’s war against its own population using digital means,” NetBlocks CEO Alp Toker told Fox News.
He said the measures were initially piecemeal but eventually encompassed the entire country, as the government appears willing to use such measures for an extended period.
Describing this “kill switch”, Toker said the internet shutdown is not merely a technical failure but an intentional, centrally imposed disruption designed to limit the coordination of protesters. It has impacted essential services, including banking and private communication, making daily activities difficult for people.
During past blackouts, such as those in 2019 and 2022, the authorities attempted to maintain a baseline of service. Observers noted that this time the regime has entirely “pulled the plug”, suggesting that it is fearful and taking no risks regarding the possibility of information reaching the outside world.
The current unrest is rooted in a deepening economic crisis that has swept Iran since demonstrations began on December 28. Protests were sparked by the collapse of the Iranian currency and soaring inflation, which have driven frustrated traders and university students onto the streets in major cities, including Tehran. These are reportedly the largest demonstrations since 2022, when the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody sparked nationwide fury.
(With AFP inputs)
January 11, 2026, 2:13 PM IST
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