An Iranian lawmaker behind parliamentary efforts to restrict internet access for citizens has defended his and other officials’ frequent use of banned social media apps, claiming it is necessary to “defend” the establishment.
In a program aired on state television Tuesday, Hamid Rasaei, a vocal proponent of internet filtering and restricting public access to Western social media, emphasized the need for authorities to crack down on the use of anti-filtering software.
Rasaei, who is highly active on X and Telegram, defended officials’ presence on these platforms, describing Western social media as “war zones” where they must confront those challenging the legitimacy and actions of the Islamic Republic.
“The public isn’t permitted to enter a war zone, except for those trained and committed to defending against the enemy. Otherwise, they could be harmed or inadvertently harm others,” Rasaei argued, adding that his use of X and other banned platforms serves this very purpose.
Iran has one of the world’s worst internet censorships with tens of thousands of websites blocked since the early 2000s and most major social media platforms banned.
Top officials of the Islamic Republic extensively use banned Western social media platforms and messaging applications including X, Instagram, and Telegram in their official capacity to broadcast their views or for propaganda purposes.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who frequently warns authorities about the dangers of social media for the public, has maintained multiple accounts on X and Instagram in various languages since 2009. For years, Iranian dissidents have campaigned for Western tech companies to ban Iranian officials from these platforms, citing their frequent spread of misinformation and ideas that threaten human rights and peace.
Authorities frequently oppose unrestricted internet access, citing religious morality and the protection of children as major concerns. However, they heavily filter opposition or independent news sources, both domestic and international, and jam foreign-based satellite TV channels—not only entertainment but also political channels—to block access to political news and information.
Filtering of the Internet has created a very lucrative market for VPNs and anti-filtering software which tens of millions of Iranians use to access blocked websites and social media platforms.
Authorities regularly target and disable VPNs and anti-filtering software, permanently or temporarily, so most Iranians install several of these on their smartphones and computers to ensure they can access the internet when one or the other fails to function.
In recent years, in addition to officials, certain professionals—including programmers, journalists, and academics—have been granted authorized VPNs, allowing them unrestricted or “limited levels” of access to the global internet. Among Iranians, this practice has come to be known as “caste-based internet access.”
Experts say alongside the creation of a closed network (intranet) based on the Chinese model, authorities are also working on developing and expanding the “cast-based” system as an alternative, to provide different levels of access to the public according to their age, education, and profession instead of the current blanket filtering system.
To enforce the use of multi-level “legal VPNs” controlled by authorities, the enforcers also need measures to fully block other VPNs and anti-filtering software, most of which are developed in Western countries and are often available for free.