The recent wave of anti-government protests in Iran were met with an unprecedented and strikingly precise internet shutdown, a move experts say signals a new stage in the country’s digital isolation. What’s less discussed, but increasingly clear, is the role China played in enabling this level of control. Reports indicate that Chinese technology transfer has directly fueled Iran’s infrastructure of oppression, providing the tools to filter, block, and ultimately sever access to the global internet.
The shutdown, which began around , initially saw 90% of internet traffic to Iran evaporate, according to digital rights expert Amir Rashidi. International calls were blocked, and domestic mobile service was disrupted. This wasn’t a crude, blanket ban, however. The shutdown was described as “chillingly precise,” selectively allowing some government communications to continue functioning while effectively silencing dissent.
This level of sophistication marks a significant escalation from previous internet restrictions in Iran, including a 2019 blackout that was, at the time, considered the most “severe disconnection” observed anywhere. The current shutdown is far harsher, leaving Iranians feeling completely cut off. As Rashidi described it, “There is no reception on the phones. There is no antenna. It’s like you are living in the middle of nowhere, with no BTS towers.”
While Iran isn’t the first nation to employ internet shutdowns as a tool of political control – Egypt blocked the internet for six days during the 2011 Tahrir protests, and the Taliban briefly shut down Afghanistan in – the scale and precision of the Iranian action are raising alarms. The fact that even Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite system, which provided a lifeline during the 2022 protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, was subject to jamming underscores the lengths to which Iranian authorities are going to suppress information.
The involvement of Chinese technology is a critical piece of this puzzle. A recent report details how China has been transferring technology to Iran, specifically related to internet filtering and blocking. This isn’t a new development; China’s own “Great Firewall” has long served as a model for countries seeking to control online access. The report suggests that this transfer of expertise and technology has directly enabled Iran’s ability to implement such a comprehensive shutdown.
The economic consequences of the 20-day outage, which only began to partially resume around , are substantial. Traffic remains blocked by default, and access is unstable. The prolonged disruption has inflicted significant damage on Iran’s economy, adding another layer of hardship to an already tense situation.
Efforts to circumvent the shutdown have been met with resistance. Iranian authorities are reportedly jamming satellite signals, particularly in Tehran, targeting Starlink users. According to Filter.Watch, some users experienced packet loss of up to 40 percent. Under Iranian law, possessing a Starlink terminal can result in a prison sentence of six months to two years, with even harsher penalties for importing multiple devices – up to 10 years in prison.
The methods used to block Starlink are also noteworthy. Experts suggest Iran may be employing mobile signal jammers similar to those used by Russia in Ukraine. Starlink satellites operate at an altitude of 550 kilometers, receiving and relaying radio signals from ground terminals. Jamming interferes with these frequencies, disrupting or blocking connections.
The situation highlights a growing trend of digital authoritarianism, where governments are increasingly willing to restrict internet access to suppress dissent and maintain control. Iran’s case, bolstered by Chinese technology, serves as a stark warning about the potential for sophisticated digital repression and the challenges of maintaining an open and accessible internet in the face of determined state control. The precision of the shutdown, coupled with the targeting of satellite internet, suggests a level of planning and capability that is deeply concerning for digital rights advocates and observers of global internet freedom.
The long-term implications of this shutdown remain to be seen. While internet access has partially resumed, restrictions persist, and the threat of further disruptions looms large. The reliance on Chinese technology raises questions about Iran’s increasing dependence on Beijing and the potential for further erosion of digital freedoms. The events in Iran are likely to fuel debate about the role of technology in political repression and the need for international cooperation to protect internet freedom.
