Pezeshkian: Gov’t plan to remove Internet curbs will enhance online governance
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his government’s plan to remove Internet restrictions does not involve the abandonment of the virtual space but rather it aims to fortify online governance.
“Scientific assessments and analyses of the social impact of [Internet] filtering have shown that none of the objectives of this plan has been achieved, and instead, it has created additional drawbacks. It’s astonishing that we still insist on continuing this futile and counterproductive trend,” Pezeshkian said as he addressed a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
Iranians often bypass the government-imposed ban on the Internet by utilizing Virtual Private Network (VPN) software applications, which make their computer appear to be located in another country. The Internet filtering, which is being monitored by the Internet Filtering Committee, led by the prosecutor general, restricts users from accessing websites and social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, and YouTube, due to their offensive and criminal content.
During the session, Pezeshkian said that the government’s plan to lift filtering does not mean giving free rein to the virtual space, but will instead lead to the development and reinforcement of online governance, enabling people to make optimal use of it.
“The government’s focus is on developing educational content, particularly for teenagers and young adults, as well as increasing government services on social media platforms, which will result in the optimal utilization of the Internet,” the president said.
He stressed that the government is seeking a common ground with other governing bodies on the issue of lifting filtering, and underscored the need to expedite the implementation of the resolution passed by the Supreme Council of Cyberspace, and to set up a special task force to examine the various aspects of the issue, address concerns, and present the findings to the next session of the council for a final decision.
Pezeshkian instructed the country’s Supreme Council of Cyberspace on Tuesday to form a working group to review the lifting of Internet restrictions, citing public dissatisfaction as a key factor in the decision.
“Continuing Internet filtering, given the widespread dissatisfaction it has caused, is unacceptable,” he said, warning, “Decisions that do not satisfy the public could backfire, eroding social capital and posing security challenges.”
The president highlighted that governance should not be based solely on assumptions without considering public satisfaction and stressed the importance of understanding how society perceives the decisions made for their lives.
Meanwhile, the government spokesperson emphasized that efforts to lift Internet restrictions and bring about a more regulated online environment are underway, stating that, “No mafia can stand up to the unity of the Iranian people.”
Speaking on the sidelines of the cabinet meeting, Fatemeh Mohajerani said, “The Ministry of Telecommunications presented a report on the special task force for digital economy, which was approved.”
She added that the government’s plan to present to the Supreme Council of Cyberspace was discussed, but ultimately, a task force was assigned to review it.