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Those who support filtering on Twitter with the active blue tick are engaged in paid activities.
Shargh newspaper wrote about the blue tick of representatives and revolutionary activists in the virtual space.
The wave of filtering in Iran started during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government, simultaneous with the growth of social networks, and continues to this day. This trend has intensified during Ebrahim Raisi’s government.
If the members of the eleventh parliament do not support further internet restrictions in Iran, they will not be considered supporters of internet freedom. However, among them are some individuals who complain about internet restrictions. What catches attention these days is the use of premium versions of Telegram by some representatives. Representatives such as Farhad Bashiri, Fatemeh Maqsoudi, Hajar Chenarani, and Ehsan Arkani, whose names have been mentioned in relation to filtering, are among those who use the premium version of Telegram to post stories. Some other representatives have also tried to use the paid features of this messaging app by removing the premium emoji from their names.
It is not only members of parliament who use the premium version of Telegram, but also news media such as the Islamic Republic News Agency, which was in favor of internet censorship during the presidency, use the premium version of Telegram in their news channels. Channels such as Fars News Agency and Majlis News also benefit from Telegram Premium.
The cost in dollars for supporters of internet censorship in Iran and supporters of filtering is not limited to using the premium version of social networks and messaging apps on Telegram. With the change in Twitter’s policies and the sale of blue ticks, many users who are considered revolutionary and government supporters with blue ticks have become active. Today, it is rare to find a revolutionary Twitter user without a blue tick next to their name. Obtaining all these ticks requires payment to Twitter. Iranian government officials continue to use filtered Twitter for the general public.
