Iran Faces Unprecedented Internet Shutdown: A Step Toward Digital Isolation?

Mon Jan 19 2026 06:21:33 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

With millions cut off from the internet since January 8, Iran's government faces international scrutiny and local unrest over its disconnection measures aimed at suppressing dissent and controlling narratives.

Iran's stringent internet blackout, now over ten days long, impacts 92 million citizens, edging the country closer to extreme digital isolation. The government orchestrated the outage to inhibit protests against its repressive actions. Analysts fear permanent restrictions could follow as authorities tighten their grip over online communications, paralleling systems used in China and Russia. Amidst this crisis, local and international advocates call for accountability and restoration of internet access essential for human rights and livelihoods.

Iran is 10 days into one of the most extreme internet shutdowns in history, with 92 million citizens cut off from all internet services and even disruption to phone and text messaging.

The Iranian government cut off services on 8 January, apparently to stifle dissent and prevent international scrutiny of a government crack down on protesters.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the internet was cut off in response to what he described as externally directed terrorist operations.

The government has not said when internet services will return, but new reports suggest that, behind the scenes, the authorities may be making plans to restrict it permanently.

On 15 January, the news website IranWire reported that government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani told journalists that international web access will not be available until at least the Iranian New Year in late March.

Internet freedom observers at FilterWatch believe the government is hastily implementing new systems and rules to cut Iran off from the global internet.

There should be no expectation of reopening international internet access, and even afterwards, users' access to international internet will never return to its previous form, FilterWatch said, citing unnamed government sources.

While the BBC cannot independently verify this report or the timing of its implementation, journalists who spoke to BBC Persian also said they were told that internet access would not be restored anytime soon.

Iran has maintained a tight grip over the internet for many years, with most western social media apps and platforms blocked, as well as external news websites like BBC News.

However many people have managed to access popular apps such as Instagram using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

Internet freedom campaigners at Access Now say Iran has consistently used shutdowns as a way to mask mass violence and brutal crackdowns on protesters, as seen during the nationwide internet shutdowns during the November 2019 and September 2022 protests.

According to traffic data from Kentik, an increase in data flow into Iran began at 3:42am local time on Jan 17th. However, current connectivity remains extremely limited, accounting for only about 0.2% of the traffic volume recorded before the internet shutdown on 8 January.

A shutdown was also imposed during the Iran-Israel conflict in June 2025. However, the current blackout has lasted longer than any previous shutdown.

In a public statement, the charity Access Now said that full restoration of internet access is imperative.

Restricting access to these essential services not only endanger lives but embolden authorities to conceal and evade accountability for human rights abuses, it said.

Already there are reports that livelihoods in Iran are being badly impacted by the shutdown with e-commerce particularly affected.

As of 18 January, the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) estimates that more than 3,300 confirmed protester deaths have been recorded, with more than 4,380 cases under review. It also reports that the number of arrests has reached 24,266 across 187 cities.

Internet monitoring project, FilterWatch, says that the latest shutdown spells the start of a more extreme digital isolation and increased surveillance on what is said, sent and viewed online.

Amir Rashidi, director of cyber security and digital rights at the Miaan Group, which runs FilterWatch, told the BBC he believes the authorities are moving towards a tiered system in which access to the global internet would no longer be automatic but subject to approval.

If Iran goes ahead with the plans being reported on, it will be following similar systems in Russia and China.

Starlink and other internet-from-space services, known as Low Earth Orbit (LEO), have also complicated control for Iran during the protests.

Despite the increasing tools being used by repressive regimes, there are emerging apps that use mesh networks relying on Bluetooth, which can bring connectivity where there is none.