Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, already known for enforcing some of the world’s strictest internet controls, reiterated on Tuesday the need for cyberspace regulation. Citing the recent arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov in France as an example, Khamenei emphasized that other nations also impose controls on online activities. “There need to be laws to regulate cyberspace. Everyone does it. Look at the French, they arrested this man and threatened him with 20 years in prison for breaching their laws,” Khamenei said during a meeting with President Masoud Pezeshkian and his cabinet.
Iran’s internet restrictions are among the harshest globally, with US-based platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube blocked, though many Iranians bypass these restrictions using virtual private networks. Durov, who was arrested in Paris, faces charges related to child sexual abuse, drug trafficking, and fraud on his platform. His messaging service, Telegram, is banned in Iran.
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Khamenei stressed that regulating cyberspace is necessary to prevent it from becoming a threat, a position that contrasts with Pezeshkian’s criticism during presidential debates, where he argued that such filtering harms Iran’s economy, particularly small businesses dependent on social media.
In 2023, Iran ranked third worldwide for internet shutdowns, according to digital rights group Access Now. The government has frequently shut down mobile networks and blocked access to Instagram and WhatsApp, the last major platforms not already banned.