Iranian Women Outsmart State Surveillance With Digital and Street Tactics
In Iran, women activists are pushing back against the government’s expanding surveillance apparatus with a mix of digital savvy, creative strategies, and bold resistance. In a report by The Media Line’s Giorgia Valente, Iranian women detailed how they evade both cyber and physical monitoring while continuing to fight for their rights in an increasingly authoritarian environment.
The Iranian government has long used spyware, data collection, and surveillance tools—such as facial recognition, drone footage, and social media monitoring—to track dissidents. Doron Darmon, a former Israeli National Cyber Directorate official, explained that authorities combine multiple surveillance streams to monitor communications, detect keywords, and even manipulate encrypted platforms. Apps like Eitaa, widely used in Iran, come preloaded with spyware that can compromise phones without users realizing it.
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In response, women activists are adapting on every front. Protesters wear layers of clothing they can quickly change, cover their faces with hats and scarves, and rely on burner phones. For digital safety, they use secure apps like Signal and ProtonMail and encourage peer training on disinformation awareness and cybersecurity practices.
One activist told The Media Line, “The women of Iran are always a step ahead of the regime.” Another said, “Every day, when we leave home without our veil, we know it could be our last day of life or freedom. But we do it anyway.”
Read Giorgia Valente’s full report to learn how Iranian women are defying state repression—online and on the streets.
