Iran is turning the internet into a privilege

Key Points:

• Iran has experienced one of the world's longest nationwide internet shutdowns since February 28, severely disrupting daily life and impacting global tech companies like Meta, which reported a drop in user activity partly due to the blackout.
• Iranian authorities frame the restrictions as wartime measures targeting "foreign platforms" like Instagram and Telegram, equating them with security threats rather than recognizing the internet as essential infrastructure.
• The government is implementing a tiered "Internet Pro" system that grants varied internet access based on profession, identity, and official approval, effectively creating a class-based internet with differential service packages.
• VPN use has surged amidst the shutdown, with prices rising significantly as users seek to bypass restrictions, highlighting a contradiction where limited access is commodified and sold despite being officially deemed a security risk.
• The internet in Iran is increasingly viewed and managed as a controlled privilege rather than a public right, serving as both an economic commodity and a tool for political and social control.