Empty Promises of a Minister

The recent statement by the Minister of Communications about the possibility of lifting censorship gradually clearly shows the contradiction between the President’s electoral promises and the current performance of the government.

During the elections, Masoud Pezeshkian, as the President, promised to solve the problem of internet censorship in Iran and to create conditions that would improve free access to information and communications in the country. These promises generated a lot of hope among the people, especially the younger generation and those active in the technology and online business sectors. However, now not only is there no fundamental change observed in restrictive policies, but the statements by the Minister of Communications also indicate a lack of serious will to solve this problem.

Lifting censorship gradually is, at best, a tentative and slow solution that cannot meet the immediate need of society for free internet access. This approach, rather than indicating a serious determination for reform, seems to be a delay in decision-making, apparently adopted to reduce pressure from public opinion and critics.

In a situation where widespread censorship has had negative impacts on the digital economy, social communications, and even education and culture of society, it was expected that the government would address this issue with bold and decisive action. Another weakness of this approach is the lack of transparency in defining the step-by-step process. What criteria have been set for lifting censorship at each stage? Will this policy equally apply to all platforms and services? Is there a guarantee that this process will not stop midway or revert with changes in political conditions?

On the other hand, it should be noted that the step-by-step approach might practically mean the continuation of restrictions for a long time. Meanwhile, problems such as the migration of technology specialists, a sharp decline in e-commerce, and a decrease in public trust in the government are direct results of these restrictions. Gradually lifting restrictions cannot compensate for these damages and will only increase public dissatisfaction.

Ultimately, the government and the Minister of Communications must understand that public trust in their promises is seriously damaged by such non-transparent and gradual approaches. If the President and his executive team believe in fulfilling their promises, they must take swift and decisive actions and employ the necessary transparency in this path.