The old and frequently used, simplified narrative about Iran and its Internet made a comeback in depicting the state as the ultimate villain occupied with preventing the free flow of information and communication to its citizens. Skeptics consider this move a clear indication that the new administration, contrary to its promises, will continue past policies in restricting cyber space. Since Hassan Rouhani’s administration took power, this has been the most noticeable instance of filtering in Iran. Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance: 4 million Iranians are facebook members Perhaps that’s because unlike Facebook, Twitter and Instagram this platform is made in China! But in Iran, which according to the estimation of the Minister of Communications and Information Technology (CIT), WeChat has almost four million users, the restriction aroused some hot debates. Even though this communication service is among the top five most popular in the world, the West did not pay enough media attention to its crackdown in Iran. In the final days of 2013, Iran filtered a social media App for Smartphones, called WeChat. His words are compelling, but recent events have not been very promising.
“Restrictions on social media must be lifted,” said Ali Jannati, Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance to Aljazeera this Monday, admitting that he has been using Facebook for the past three years. Has Iran's Internet Policy Changed With Rouhani?įacebook in Iran - cartoon by Mana Neyestani,