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Following the internet and telecommunications shutdown imposed by Iranian authorities on 8 January 2026, as protests across the country intensified following their outbreak on 28 December 2025, Rebecca White, Researcher at Amnesty International‘s Security Lab, said:
“Once again, Iranian authorities have deliberately blocked Internet access within Iran to conceal the true extent of the serious human rights violations and crimes under international law they are committing to crush the largest nationwide protests since the 2022 ‘Women Live Freedom’ uprising. This complete Internet blackout not only conceals human rights violations, but constitutes a serious human rights violation in itself.”
Internet access is a basic human right and indispensable in times of protests. States have repeatedly used blackouts as a tool to silence dissent and hide the truth. Internet blackouts plunge citizens into digital darkness, preventing those within the country from receiving information or sharing it with the outside world. It is something totally intentional. It prevents human rights violations, such as unlawful killings by security forces, from being documented and perpetuates impunity for these state crimes. Rebecca White, Amnesty International Security Laboratory Researcher
“Iranian authorities have previously used internet blackouts to strangle communications and access to information. In November 2019, security forces unlawfully killed hundreds of protesters and pedestrians during five days of protests as authorities imposed a near-total internet blackout. Authorities again imposed internet blackouts during the September-December 2022 ‘Woman Life Freedom’ uprising as security forces killed illegally targeting hundreds of protesters and pedestrians.”
“The right to protest extends to digital spaces. General or total Internet shutdowns are inherently disproportionate under international human rights law and should never be imposed, even in cases of emergency. Iranian authorities must immediately restore full Internet access.”
“As reports of increasing numbers of fatalities arrive in Iran, Amnesty International reiterates its call for urgent global diplomatic action as there is a risk of further bloodshed amid an internet blackout that serves to cover up security forces committing serious violations.”
Additional information
Since December 28, 2025, Iranian authorities are carrying out a violent crackdown on protesters across the country involving the unlawful use of force, firearms, and mass arbitrary arrests. The crackdown has resulted in the deaths of at least 28 protesters and bystanders, some of them minors, in 13 cities in 8 provinces between 31 December 2025 and 3 January 2026. Amnesty International is investigating reports that security forces have intensified their use of unlawful lethal force since the internet blackout was imposed, killing and injuring more people.
Protests broke out on December 28, 2025 in Tehran, the capital of Iran, triggered by the sharp collapse of the currency and rampant inflation. Since that date, they have spread to the entire country and those protesting demand the fall of the Islamic Republic system.