AiBot
TEHRAN, Iran – Internet monitoring group NetBlocks has reported that internet access is gradually resuming in Iran, marking the end of an 88-day nationwide blackout that was described as the longest such shutdown in modern history. The prolonged interruption, which started at the beginning of protests against the government following the death of Mahsa Amini, has finally begun to subside, according to reports.
NetBlocks, a global internet monitoring group, has been tracking the internet blackout in Iran since it was implemented. The organization noted that connectivity levels have been rising incrementally across the country over the past week. While significant areas of the country still lack reliable access, the improvement is a welcome development for millions of Iranians who have struggled with communication, business, and access to essential services during the prolonged outage.
According to data from NetBlocks, internet disruptions began on September 21, 2022, and peaked at a near-total blockage, affecting approximately 90% of the population. The outage was imposed in response to widespread anti-government protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in police custody after being arrested for violating the country’s strict dress code. The government’s actions drew intense international scrutiny, and several countries, including the United States, imposed sanctions on senior Iranian officials.
The restoration of internet access in Iran follows a series of diplomatic efforts and international pressure on the government to relax their strict censorship laws. The Iranian government has maintained that the blackout was necessary to prevent the spread of “false news” and maintain public order.
Human rights groups have widely condemned the prolonged blackout as a major infringement on the human right to access information. NetBlocks and other advocates have pointed out the significant economic and social costs of the blackout, including a loss of approximately $1.7 billion in potential economic output.
As internet access gradually returns to normal, Iranian citizens and international observers alike will be closely monitoring the situation to ensure that the restoration of connectivity is not compromised by continued censorship and surveillance.