Internet blackout continues in Iran

In Iran, the government has enforced a digital blackout that has now lasted 27 days, according to the internet monitoring group NetBlocks. They reported that Iran has been cut off from the global internet for 624 hours. During this period, rights monitors, independent media, and the general public have had limited access, with only those on a government-approved whitelist allowed online. Even with the blackout, which started on February 28 when the U.S. and Israel began their airstrikes, the BBC has managed to communicate with some Iranians about the ongoing war. One young Iranian shared his anxiety about possibly being drafted for military service and talked about the recent loss of a close friend in an airstrike. Airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel on Iran have continued today as part of their strategy to eliminate Tehran’s nuclear and missile programs and to seek regime change. In the past, Iran has shut down the internet during times of social unrest, including a similar near-total blackout for several weeks in January due to widespread protests. However, some experts believe that other reasons might also be causing the internet disruption.