Internet Freedom Plummets: Rivaling China’s, Reports Discover!

In recent times, the argument over internet freedom has been the subject of countless debates and in-depth discussions around the globe. One country that has often found itself in the limelight is China, notorious for its stringent Internet censorship. It is a source of alarm for many, therefore, that there is now another country whose internet freedom is reportedly as dire as that in China. A recent report, the subject of this article, suggests that the state of internet freedom in Iran parallels China. The report, published by the US-based non-profit organization Freedom House, assesses internet freedom in 65 countries, with Iran scoring only 15 out of a potential 100 points. This score places it only slightly ahead of China, which stands at 10 points. While these scores might be surprising, a closer inspection reveals the harsh realities behind these numbers. Both nations wield strict controls over internet use and wipe out content deemed unfit by the government. The Iranian government reportedly employs various tactics, including internet shutdowns, surveillance, and sophisticated disinformation campaigns, and these tactics are similarly seen in China. The online censorship in Iran became more rampant following the 2009 protest against the disputed presidential election. As people took to the streets and social media to voice their dissent, the Iranian government took aggressive steps towards curbing Internet freedom, in an attempt to quell the uprising. The government has since then clamped down on free speech by policing online platforms and detaining activists who defy state directives. China, on the other hand, is known for instating the so-called Great Firewall which effectively blocks international social media platforms and other mainstream Western websites. The Chinese government surveils its citizens’ online activities, monitors their social media posts, and even rates their behavior through a controversial Social Credit System. As more countries seek strategies to control the distribution of information within their borders, sections of the world are becoming isolated from each other by digital borders. This move from an open information network to a series of controlled intranets is referred to as “the splinternet.” In both Iran and China, it is apparent that the development of a digital divide is underway. To enforce these digital borders, Iran has been pushing for the establishment of a national intranet- a move unnervingly akin to China’s ‘Great Firewall’. Iran’s plan, labelled the National Information Network, aims to control access to content by replacing international Internet services with government-sanctioned alternatives. Iran has also been adopting deep packet inspection (D