Internet Filtering in Iran: The Path of North Korea or the Dream of China
Internet Filtering in Iran: The Path of North Korea or the Dream of China
Internet filtering in Iran has become a serious economic, social, and political challenge. This policy has not only limited people’s communications but also deeply impacted the digital economy and daily life. However, to what extent is this approach comparable to similar policies in other countries such as China, Russia, and North Korea?
China: Restricted Internet but with Strong Domestic Infrastructure
Since the 1990s, China has implemented strict internet control policies with the launch of the Great Firewall.
The country has blocked access to many foreign platforms like Google, Facebook, and YouTube, and developed domestic alternatives such as WeChat and Baidu.
However, the key difference lies in China’s strong technological infrastructure. The country has not only provided effective alternatives to international platforms but also grown its digital economy through massive investments in artificial intelligence and technology.
Russia: Control in Contrast with Apparent Freedom
Since 2012, Russia has started controlling the internet by passing strict laws. The government has used systems like the independent internet system RuNet for data monitoring and content censorship.
However, unlike China, many Western platforms are still active in Russia but under strict supervision. Russia’s clashes with tech giants like Google and Meta have often led to sanctions and heavy fines.
North Korea: Complete Disconnection from the World
In North Korea, global internet access is completely cut off. Only a very limited group of government officials has internet access, while ordinary people are only connected to a domestic network known as Kwangmyong.
This policy might be the most severe form of filtering, but its cost for North Korea has been a complete cut-off from the global economy and modern technologies.
Iran: Neither Alternatives Nor Independence
Compared to the three mentioned countries, Iran is in a contradictory middle path. Since 2009, filtering policies in Iran intensified, starting with the blocking of popular social networks like Facebook and Twitter.
This trend continued in recent years with widespread restrictions on Instagram and WhatsApp.
Unlike China, Iran has not provided any reliable alternatives for the blocked platforms.
Domestic messaging apps like Rubika and Eitaa have faced limited acceptance, and people have little trust in these platforms due to security concerns and low quality.
Differences in Economic Impacts
China and even Russia have managed to develop their digital economies despite restrictive policies, but in Iran, filtering has directly harmed online businesses and startups.
According to reports, after the filtering of Instagram, at least 40% of small businesses active on this platform have faced a severe drop in income.
Public Reaction: Resistance or Isolation
In China, people have largely adapted to domestic platforms.
But in Iran, public resistance to filtering is evident through the widespread use of filter bypass tools like VPNs and proxies.
According to unofficial statistics, over 80% of Iranian users use these tools to access free internet.
Conclusion: A Policy Without Purpose
Unlike China and Russia, filtering in Iran has neither led to digital independence nor provided efficient alternative infrastructures. This policy has mostly resulted in economic and social isolation of the people and psychological pressure on society.
One of the promises of the Raisi administration was to lift the filtering, which has not been realized so far. Additionally, in recent days, some officials have again talked about tiered internet access and setting access levels for different groups.