Member of Parliament on Filtering: By What Right Have You Cut Off People’s Access?

A member of parliament questioned the right to cut off public access through filtering.

The representative of Chabahar in the Islamic Consultative Assembly addressed government officials regarding the blocking of messaging apps and social networks in Iran, saying, ‘When you and we are actively present on all platforms, by what right have you restricted public access?’

Moeinoddin Saeedi added in the open session on Tuesday, August 15, regarding the increased internet restrictions in Iran, ‘Filtering of cyberspace is in complete contradiction with Article 9 of the Constitution and your electoral statements.’

He said, ‘Truly, what relation does the 50 trillion toman financial turnover of VPNs have with the filter merchants?’

Previously, Jalal Rashidi Kooche, another parliament member, had also stated, ‘We are practically witnessing a profitable and deceitful market forming behind the scenes of filtering, with a heavy financial turnover occurring in it, amounting to 40 to 50 trillion tomans.’

Internet filtering in Iran has always existed, but during the recent nationwide protests, it has intensified, and WhatsApp and Instagram have also joined the list of filtered platforms.