Iran’s Next Internet Blackout Is Inevitable
Flipping the kill switch is a potent exercise of authoritarian control.
TL;DR
- Iran has experienced its fifth and longest internet blackout, significantly disrupting communication and daily life.
- The blackout had severe economic consequences, costing the country an estimated $80 million daily and affecting businesses reliant on online platforms.
- Iranian authorities maintained a domestic intranet for essential services and offered preferential internet access, while ordinary citizens faced instability and insecurity.
- Communications blackouts are used by the Iranian government to control public image, conceal human rights violations, and suppress dissent, with past blackouts preceding violent crackdowns.
- The Iranian diaspora experienced profound isolation, losing contact with family and friends during the prolonged outage.
- Direct-to-cell (D2C) technology is proposed as a more resilient alternative to satellite terminals like Starlink, offering a way for phones to connect directly to satellites.
- The Direct-to-Cell Coalition advocates for D2C technology to be designed with features that protect populations during internet shutdowns.
- International regulatory hurdles and lobbying by countries like China and Iran could impede the development and accessibility of D2C technology for free communication.