Iran tense: Cyber expert warns of ‘internet kill switch’ as protests intensify — what it means
Iran faces a near-total internet blackout amid widespread anti-government protests, with connectivity plummeting to below 2% of normal levels. This "internet kill switch" is a deliberate move by authorities to curb communication, disrupt protest coordination, and limit coverage of alleged abuses by security forces. The severe shutdown, impacting essential services, is among the most extreme recorded in the country.
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Iran has been hit with a near‑total nationwide internet blackout amid widespread anti‑government protests, with independent monitors reporting connectivity has fallen to a tiny fraction of normal levels as authorities restrict access across the country.
NetBlocks, a global internet monitoring group, confirmed the blackout has persisted for over 36–48 hours, sharply curtailing Iranians’ ability to communicate and share information.Cybersecurity expert noted the shutdown appears to be an intentional, centrally imposed disruption — often described as an “internet kill switch” — rather than a technical failure, and is intended to limit coverage of events on the ground and disrupt protest coordination.
The move appears to be aimed at limiting and hiding the flow of information about alleged abuses and crimes by security forces as nationwide protests challenging Iran's theocracy continue.
Concerns existed that authorities might attempt to interfere with satellite signals to prevent footage of the unrest from reaching the outside world. According to the Associated Press, at least 116 people have been killed in connection with the nationwide unrest so far.
Amnesty International said, "People in Iran daring to express their anger at decades of repression and demand fundamental change are once again being met with a deadly pattern of security forces unlawfully firing at, chasing, arresting and beating protesters."
Iran’s internet blackout
Alp Toker, CEO of NetBlocks, was quoted by Fox News as saying, "This is Iran’s war against its own population using digital means. This was a piecemeal measure that eventually encompassed the entire country, with the government willing to use this kind of measure for an extended period of time."He added that "There would be an attempt by the regime to cover up crimes that it may have committed, so this blackout could potentially last for days or weeks."NetBlocks has described the current blackout as among the most severe ever recorded in Iran. "We are tracking near-total disconnection of internet service across Iran right now, and connectivity is below 2% of ordinary levels," Toker said. "This is a nationwide disruption that is impacting almost all services, all connectivity and all avenues of life, extending beyond just mobile phones and computers."The shutdown is affecting essential services, including banks, and severely restricting communication within the country. "There are a few gaps, so it's possible to communicate with those close to the borders through Wi-Fi or mobile service that crosses borders," Toker explained. "It’s also occasionally possible to find a part in the service, in a fixed-line service, where they can tunnel through all those, but that is increasingly rare and no longer an option.