Tehran, December 24, 2024: Iranian authorities have lifted bans on WhatsApp and Google Play as a first step toward easing internet restrictions, state media reported on Tuesday.
Known for having some of the world’s strictest internet controls, Iran has routinely blocked US-based platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. However, tech-savvy users often bypass these restrictions through virtual private networks (VPNs).
“A positive majority vote has been reached to lift limitations on access to some popular foreign platforms such as WhatsApp and Google Play,” stated the official IRNA news agency, referencing a meeting chaired by President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Iran’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Sattar Hashemi, hailed the move as “the first step in removing internet limitations.”
Social media platforms have played a pivotal role in anti-government protests in Iran, which has led to stringent online censorship. In September, the United States called on Big Tech companies to support users in heavily censored countries, including Iran, by helping them evade online restrictions.
This decision marks a significant shift in Iran’s approach to internet access, signaling potential future relaxations in digital restrictions.
