Marketplace All-in-One 34 days without internet in Iran
Apr 2, 2026
Amir Rashidi, director for digital rights and security at the Mian/Miaan Group, explains Iran’s 34-day cutoff of the global internet while the government-run National Information Network remains online. He outlines how local alternatives and censorship work. He discusses safety impacts, limited workarounds like VPNs and satellites, and the authorities’ motive to control communication and information.
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Government Keeps Domestic Intranet While Blocking Global Internet
- Iran's global internet has been cut while the government-run National Information Network (NIN) remains available to citizens.
- The NIN duplicates services like email and search but censors results, e.g., searching "war" returns nothing.
Local Apps Still Work While News Is Blocked
- Everyday apps like food delivery work locally over the NIN, so people can order coffee without global internet.
- But accessing Google, social media, or BBC is impossible, leaving zero access to international news or platforms.
Censorship Is Built Into National Apps
- The NIN enforces censorship at the application layer, not just by cutting pipes.
- National equivalents (search engines, email) actively filter content so queries like "war" return no results.