Fourth Day of Complete Internet Shutdown in Iran; Connectivity: Close to Absolute Zero

On the fourth day of a nationwide internet shutdown following the national and revolutionary uprising of Iranians, the internet freedom watchdog "NetBlocks" has reported that the Islamic Republic has maintained internet connectivity at nearly zero, around one percent. According to a chart published by this organization, since the early hours of Monday, January 8, 2026, internet connectivity across Iran has been almost completely severed, with only a very limited trace of connectivity remaining; some sources attribute this to government emergency channels. NetBlocks stated in its announcement: "This censorial action poses a direct threat to the safety and health of the people of Iran at a crucial moment for the country's future." This shutdown coincides with the continuation of widespread public protests in various cities across Iran, and the government is attempting to prevent coordination among protesters, global media coverage, and the dissemination of documentation of the crackdowns by cutting off digital communications. Earlier, the Persian-language account of the U.S. State Department on the social media platform X reacted to the expansion of the nationwide uprising in Iran, the complete internet shutdown, and the intensification of the crackdown on protesters by the Islamic Republic, expressing solidarity with the people and emphasizing that the will of the Iranian people cannot be extinguished by the internet blackout. One of these messages stated: "The Islamic Republic regime completely cut off the internet to silence the voice of the Iranian people, but will cannot silence will like a network connection." Amnesty International has warned that the nationwide internet shutdown in Iran, coinciding with the intensification of public protests, is a deliberate tool to conceal widespread human rights violations and the deadly suppression of protesters. The organization states that the internet shutdown not only hinders information dissemination but also constitutes a serious violation of human rights. Rebecca White, a security researcher at Amnesty International, has stated that officials of the Islamic Republic have "once again deliberately" severed Iran's connection to the outside world to "hide the true extent of the crimes committed to suppress the largest nationwide protests since the uprising for women, life, freedom." According to her, this action plunges the people into a "digital darkness" and prevents the recording and documentation of instances such as the unlawful killing of protesters by security forces. Amnesty International emphasizes that access to the internet is a fundamental human right and is vital during protests. The organization warns that cutting off the internet allows government forces to continue their repression without public and media oversight and remain unaccountable. According to Rebecca White, "The right to protest includes digital spaces as well," and a complete internet shutdown, even in emergencies, is an disproportionate and illegal action under international law.