Internet collapses in Iran amid protests over economic crisis

A significant disruption in internet connectivity swept across Iran on Thursday, coinciding with widespread protests ignited by a severe economic crisis. Amir Rashidi, a cybersecurity expert affiliated with the nonprofit Miaan Group, described the situation as a 'near-total disconnection from the outside world.' Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at Kentik, echoed this sentiment, revealing that Iran experienced a 'near-total blackout' beginning around 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, which translates to 8 p.m. local time in Tehran. Web monitoring organizations, including NetBlocks, Cloudflare, and IODA, reported abrupt declines in internet connectivity throughout the nation. David Belson, head of data insight at Cloudflare, stated, 'We continue to see a small amount of traffic, but the country is effectively completely offline.' This blackout comes in the wake of protests that erupted in late December, triggered by a dramatic plunge in the value of Iran's currency, leading to acute shortages of goods and soaring prices. Reports indicate that some shops within Tehran’s traditional bazaar have remained closed for over eleven days. The Iranian government has responded to the unrest with a forceful crackdown on demonstrators. Rashidi attributes the internet blackout to government actions, noting the regime's stringent control over online access. As of now, representatives from the Iranian government in the United States have not responded to inquiries regarding the situation. Additionally, the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website was reported to be down at the time of this publication.