The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: Iran Protests and Internet Shutdown
Feb 6, 2026
Iria Puyosa, a tech researcher on internet shutdowns, explains how Iran throttled and severed connectivity and the limits of solutions like satellites. Nate Swanson, an Iran policy expert, analyzes how protests spread, the security forces' harsh crackdown, and realistic U.S. response options. They discuss national intranets, elite access, and practical steps to restore communications.
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Three Phases Of The Uprising
- The protests evolved in three phases: economic grievance, mass mobilization, then unprecedented violent crackdown.
- Nate Swanson says this cycle shows the movement shifted from reform to calls for regime change.
Scale Of The Killings
- Fatalities are extraordinarily high, with estimates from about 10,000 to 30,000 killed during the crackdown.
- Nate Swanson emphasizes these numbers surpass prior major uprisings like Tiananmen in scale and severity.
How Iran's Shutdown Worked
- An internet shutdown severs user connectivity by throttling then cutting network links to ISPs.
- Iria Puyosa explains Iran used progressive throttling then a near-total disconnect to stifle reporting and coordination.