Iran Lifts Ban on WhatsApp and Google Play: A Step Towards Internet Freedom

KAZI ABUL MONSUR, jOURNALIST#
Iran has lifted its bans on WhatsApp and Google Play, which had been in place since 2022 following nationwide protests over the death of Mahsa Amini. The Supreme Council of Cyberspace unanimously voted to remove these restrictions, marking a significant step toward easing internet censorship in the country. This decision aligns with President Masoud Pezeshkian’s commitment to reducing social media constraints. While access has been restored on computers, mobile access is still pending. Despite previous bans, many Iranians have used proxies and VPNs to circumvent internet restrictions.

The restrictions were imposed during protests in 2022, which sparked significant public discontent. Reversing these bans is seen as a step to alleviate some of the frustration among citizens.The bans were criticized internationally as a suppression of free speech and access to information. Lifting them may be an attempt to improve Iran’s global image, especially in light of ongoing human rights scrutiny.The restrictions on Google Play limited access to apps critical for economic activities and daily life. Restoring these services could boost the economy by enabling smoother technological and digital integration. President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration has shown a willingness to reduce strict censorship, which aligns with the decision to restore access to these platforms.Many Iranians circumvented the bans using proxies and VPNs, undermining the effectiveness of the restrictions. This may have rendered the bans less relevant and prompted their removal.

According to Pakistan’s Dawn,Iranian authorities have lifted a ban on Meta’s instant messaging platform WhatsApp and Google Play, as a first step to scale back internet restrictions, Iranian state media reported on Tuesday.

The Islamic Republic has some of the strictest controls on Internet access in the world, but its blocks on US-based social media such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are routinely bypassed by tech-savvy Iranians using virtual private networks.

“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, referring to a meeting on the matter headed by President Masoud Pezeshkian.

“Today the first step in removing internet limitations… has been taken,” IRNA cited Iran’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology Sattar Hashemi as saying.Social media platforms were widely used in anti-government protests in Iran.

In September the United States called on Big Tech to help evade online censorship in countries that heavily censor the internet, including Iran.
Overall, the decision reflects a combination of public, economic, and political considerations aimed at addressing both domestic and international challenges.#