Amid widespread anti-government protests, Iran has shut down all methods of internet access within its borders, reports IranWire. It has done the same previously, during earlier, milder episodes of revolt. However, this time the authorities seem to have also been successful in disrupting the tens of thousands of Starlink receivers thought to be inside the country. On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump said that he would speak to Elon Musk, the owner of SpaceX and Starlink, about restoring internet access to the Iranian public.
You're likely well aware of the severity of the clashes between protesters and the Iranian authorities. The general worldwide news media are filling the airwaves and front pages with reports about the uprising, and shocking numbers of casualties and arrests over the last four days.
During previous notable times of public unrest, Iran has cut public communications like internet services, mobile services, and even phone services. The commonly accepted reason for such blocks is to prevent easy communication and organizing by protesters. The same actions serve to limit the flow of images and videos to the outside world. Thus, the internet blockade helps the Iranian government shape the narrative, or at least gives it a better chance of doing so.
Starlink disruption likely relies on acquired Chinese or Russian tech
IW highlights something quite different during this latest spate of organized government dissent. On Friday, it noted that “even satellite internet services like Starlink sharply dropped.” Internet researcher Amir Rashidi told IranWire that, this time, “military-grade jamming signals were detected targeting Starlink satellites.” This directed action by the Iranian authorities meant that up to 80% of Starlink traffic was disrupted. Rashidi characterized this jamming effort as unprecedented yet highly sophisticated, and suspects Chinese or Russian tech has been acquired for this purpose, though doesn’t rule out something domestically developed.
Internal to Iran, government-aligned internet sites and channels reportedly started to come back online, thought to be through a progressive white-listing system. The first beneficiaries were “government-aligned Telegram channels, state media accounts, and some university networks,” notes IranWire. The last time there was a crackdown on the internet and digital communications it lasted 12 days. Perhaps this could be longer.
President Trump will talk to Elon Musk about Iran’s internet blockade
U.S. government officials have been quite vocal in condemning the reported killing of more than 500 protesters and the 10,000+ that have been imprisoned over the last four days.
On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters he has plans to talk with Elon Musk about restoring internet services in Iran. Trump was answering a question from a reporter about restoring internet services, like Starlink, for the Iranian public. “He's very good at that kind of thing, he's got a very good company,” the President assured concerned reporters.
Stay On the Cutting Edge: Get the Tom's Hardware Newsletter Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors
... continue reading