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The Iranian regime triggered an internet “kill switch” in an apparent effort to hide alleged abuses by security forces and as protests against it surged nationwide, a cybersecurity expert has claimed.
The blackout slashed internet access to a fraction of normal levels on the 13th day of the protests as rights groups, including Amensty International, accused the regime of using lethal force against protesters.
“This is Iran’s war against its own population using digital means,” NetBlocks CEO Alp Toker told Digital.
“This was a piecemeal measure that eventually encompassed the entire country, with the government willing to use this kind of measure for an extended period of time,” he said.
“There would be an attempt by the regime to cover up crimes that it may have committed, so this blackout could potentially last for days or weeks,” Toker added.
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Protesters gather as vehicles burn, amid evolving anti-government unrest, in Tehran, Iran, in this screen grab obtained from a social media video released on Friday. (Social Media/via Reuters)
At least 65 people have been killed in the protests, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran, which said late Friday that the death toll had more than doubled since earlier in the week.
The group also reported that more than 2,300 people have been arrested and that demonstrations have spread to at least 180 cities nationwide. Most of those killed were protesters, the group said.
“People in Iran daring to express their anger at decades of repression and demand fundamental change are once again being met with a deadly pattern of security forces unlawfully firing at, chasing, arresting and beating protesters,” Amnesty International also said in a statement Thursday.
“The single kill switch is the censorship mechanism that is centrally controlled by the regime, so there are no legal procedures or mechanisms for people to push back,” Toker said.
“We know now that they’ve centralized all of this into a one-step operation,” he explained, calling it “very much a top-down mechanism.”
“It’s been in development since the Cold War, and it means they are able to triangulate the ground terminal in satellite transmissions. Some governments implement this kind of kill switch in their cyber operations rooms,” he said.
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“We know that in 2019, for example, it used to be a painstaking measure when the government had to switch off businesses one by one, city by city.”
NetBlocks said the current blackout is among the most severe it has ever recorded in Iran.
“We are tracking near-total disconnection of internet service across Iran right now, and connectivity is below 2% of ordinary levels,” Toker said.
“This is a nationwide disruption that is impacting almost all services, all connectivity and all avenues of life, extending beyond just mobile phones and computers,” he said.
“It’s impacting banks, essential services, and there’s very little communication within the country, so people are unable to reach the outside world and nobody has the ability to communicate.”
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Despite the sweeping restrictions, some limited communication channels remain available, Toker revealed.
“There are a few gaps, so it’s possible to communicate with those close to the borders through Wi-Fi or mobile service that crosses borders,” he said.
“It’s also occasionally possible to find a part in the service, in a fixed-line service, where they can tunnel through all those, but that is increasingly rare and no longer an option.
“Another mechanism we’ve seen is access via satellite internet, namely the Starlink network, but the equipment is banned by the Iranian regime.”
“The technology that the Iranian regime uses to trace links is essentially anti-espionage technology,” he said.
“These measures are typically imposed by the most authoritarian regimes, the most controlling governments that seek to silence and oppress their own populations,” Toker said.
“NetBlocks tracked very similar multi-week disruption in 2019, during which thousands were killed, and this was also done in 2022 when people were protesting the killing of Mahsa Amini.”
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Iranian demonstrations have intensified in recent days with the sounds of gunfire in the streets. (National Council of Resistance of Iran)
“In past incidents, we did observe that the government attempted to keep a baseline of service available.
“In this recent case, they pulled the plug, so there’s a far more extreme measure in place here, which suggests that the regime is scared and isn’t taking risks when it comes to the possibility of information reaching the outside world.”
President Donald Trump warned Iran’s leaders Friday against using force on protesters.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, he warned Iran was in “big trouble.”
“I just hope the protesters in Iran are going to be safe, because that’s a very dangerous place right now,” Trump said. “You’d better not start shooting, because we’ll start shooting, too.”
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“The U.S. has encouraged democracy in Iran, and that’s a positive thing at this point,” Toker said.
“There’s very little that can be done from the outside, but it’s important to continue to support positive efforts.
“A free and open internet in Iran, and indeed in other countries, can encourage democracy and support basic liberties,” he added.
