Iran's judiciary has warned citizens that using foreign messaging platforms by candidates and their supporters during elections constitutes a severe electoral offense punishable by law.

The Social Affairs and Crime Prevention Department of the Judiciary emphasized the gravity of this offense, particularly during the campaign silence period (24 hours preceding elections).

State-run IRNA news reported Tuesday that “The Judiciary has forged alliances with three telecommunications operators to heighten public awareness and advocate responsible technology usage, aimed at mitigating criminal activities.”

It further noted, “For the past three years, citizens have received cautionary text messages as part of an initiative to bolster awareness regarding their societal rights.”

Over the last twenty years, Iran has enacted comprehensive censorship policies, blocking tens of thousands of websites. The advent of social media and messaging apps has further restricted platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Viber, WeChat, Telegram, and Twitter. Traditional media, literature, and cinema also face rigorous scrutiny, which is assessed against Islamic principles and political content.

To navigate around these online constraints and evade filters, individuals often resort to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to gain unimpeded access to the Internet. While in more liberal societies, VPNs are primarily used to protect user anonymity, in Iran, they serve as crucial tools for accessing unrestricted information.