Consequences of Internet Shutdown; Widespread Disruption in Daily Life, from Hospitals to Banks and Offices

"Last night there was heavy gunfire in almost all cities... the internet is completely cut off... SMS services are also down, only phone calls can be made... no card-reading devices are working and cash is the only option... foreign airlines have canceled flights." This short message is a narrative from a traveler in Tehran to outside Iran, shared on social media platform X on Saturday; a narrative that has been echoed multiple times in recent hours from various cities across Iran. With the widespread internet shutdown in Iran, not only has the flow of information been disrupted, but a significant portion of economic, service, and healthcare activities reliant on the internet has also come to a standstill; a situation that, according to citizens, has severely disrupted daily life and halted many ordinary affairs. Citizens report that the internet shutdown has hindered even the simplest daily tasks. One citizen states: "We are facing problems even for regular purchases. Many people do not have cash, and card-reading devices are not working. Some shopkeepers prefer not to open at all." A citizen from Tehran told BBC Persian that with the internet and Wi-Fi cut off, the internal systems of hospitals that rely on the internet for scheduling, communication between doctors' rooms, receiving reports, ordering medication, and emergency coordination have been completely disrupted. He explains: "Not only are phone lines constantly going down, but the internet and Wi-Fi are entirely cut off. As a result, all these processes have been disrupted. Please publish this issue to highlight the importance of the situation and the need for immediate attention to it." This citizen adds that in Iran's medical system, the connection between pharmacies and medication orders, especially for rare drugs, has a direct dependency on the internet. The negative impact of the internet shutdown has not been limited to healthcare facilities, and many public services have also been disrupted. One citizen mentions: "For banking tasks, transferring money, or even paying bills, we are practically unable to do anything. Everything depends on the internet." Some citizens report long queues forming in front of ATMs. One citizen states: "To withdraw cash, we have to wait for hours, and many are worried that if this situation continues, they won’t be able to secure their basic needs." Alongside these problems, citizens also recount the security atmosphere in the cities. One citizen who participated in the protests on Friday told the BBC that officers were armed with weapons that had "a long and large barrel and no wooden handle" and, according to him, did not resemble shotgun guns. He adds: "The bullets were such that when they pulled the trigger up and down, the shell would fall out." According to this citizen, security forces were using lasers to check inside vehicles. He states, "From around four in the afternoon, shops began to close one by one. People were scared and quickly left. Everyone was looking at each other, as if waiting for someone to say something." This Tehran resident also mentions that today, Saturday, whispers of a truck drivers' strike have been heard, and this topic has become one of the main discussions among the people. He says the entrance to Haft-Hoz from the Rasalat side towards the "Sarsabz" metro station was open, but people were advised not to use this route. When asked why, he says: "They said Haft-Hoz would be closed from six o'clock, and it was even heard that the police were recording the license plates of cars that honked." This Tehran citizen also states that "municipal workers in the capital have been working since last night until morning to collect bullet shells from the streets." According to these individuals, cleaning staff have been asked to hand over the shells, and after that, they were subjected to "body searches." Meanwhile, many people and shopkeepers, taking the protests seriously, have halted their activities. According to one citizen, about 90% of businesses have closed down, and only a limited number of private companies continue to operate. An employee of a private company states: "My workplace has practically been paralyzed due to the internet shutdown. We couldn't work yesterday or today. Even internal emails have been cut off." He adds: "The banking system has also been disrupted. Receipts and checks are not issued, and for transferring small amounts, we have to go in person to ATMs." According to this citizen, the internet shutdown has also disrupted people's communication with their families and loved ones: "On the first night of the internet cut, even though roaming costs were very high, I managed to call abroad, but now we can neither buy roaming nor call outside. They also cannot call inside. Even calls to landlines have been restricted." He concludes: "Everyone is scared. Everyone is anxious, but still, many continue to go to the protests."