Iran’s nationwide internet blackout has surpassed 60 hours, sparking warnings from digital rights groups that the shutdown poses a serious threat to public safety during a period of intense unrest.
NetBlocks, an organization that monitors global internet access, said the prolonged outage has left Iran almost entirely disconnected from the outside world. “The censorship measure presents a direct threat to the safety and wellbeing of Iranians at a key moment for the country’s future,” the group said.
The blackout comes amid widespread protests challenging Iran’s ruling theocracy. With online communication largely disabled, activists say it has become nearly impossible to coordinate demonstrations, seek medical help, or document human rights abuses. Families are also struggling to locate missing relatives amid reports of mass arrests.
In previous periods of unrest, similar internet shutdowns coincided with some of the deadliest crackdowns. Rights advocates fear history may repeat itself, warning that the lack of visibility gives security forces greater freedom to act without accountability.
Iranian authorities have not publicly explained the duration of the outage, but officials have previously defended such measures as necessary to maintain security. Critics argue the blackout is instead being used to suppress dissent and limit the flow of information.
As protests continue and tensions rise, international pressure is mounting on Tehran to restore connectivity and allow independent reporting on the situation unfolding across the country.
