Iran's Internet Oversight Council Votes to Lift WhatsApp and Google Play Bans
In a significant development, Iran's Supreme Cyberspace Council has voted unanimously to lift restrictions on two major foreign-owned applications, WhatsApp and Google Play. This decision, which emerged from a meeting held on December 24, was reported by the state news agency IRNA.
Communications Minister Sattar Hashemi expressed optimism over the council's decision on social media platform X, stating, "Today we took the first step toward lifting Internet restrictions with unanimity and consensus." However, the timeline for when these restrictions will officially end remains unclear, as the council operates behind closed doors and does not disclose individual votes.
The council emphasized the importance of governance by rule of law in cyberspace while making this decision. WhatsApp and Google Play had faced restrictions since 2022 following the widespread protests under the slogan "Woman Life Freedom," which the authorities severely suppressed.
The Supreme Cyberspace Council, established by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has committed to fostering the growth of domestic online platforms. Ahead of the recent meeting, the Mehr News Agency revealed a plan by the council to offer an advertising support package to support homegrown messaging services. The initial phase of this plan involves building necessary infrastructure for enhancing domestic content platforms.
While the ban on WhatsApp and Google Play has been lifted, other popular social media sites remain inaccessible in Iran, including Facebook, X, Telegram, and YouTube. Critics of the ongoing restrictions have voiced strong disapproval, claiming that these measures have only led to discontent and increased costs for ordinary citizens. Social and political activist Ali Rabiei noted on X, “The restrictions have achieved nothing but anger and added costs to people's lives.”
Additionally, Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif stated that President Masud Pezeshkian supports the removal of restrictions, suggesting that maintaining these bans is not in the interest of the Iranian people or the state. Zarif added that experts agree that the restrictions pose no benefits to the country’s security.
Despite this, resistance remains among some lawmakers regarding the potential lifting of these bans. The reformist publication Shargh reported that 136 members of Iran's 290-seat parliament wrote to the Supreme Cyberspace Council, cautioning that such a move would be akin to gifting advantages to the country’s adversaries. They demanded that access to unrestricted online platforms should only be granted if the platforms adhere to the values of Islamic society and comply with Iranian laws.
As Iran navigates its complex relationship with the global internet, this recent step by the Supreme Cyberspace Council highlights the ongoing tension between domestic policies and international digital freedom.
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