The Iranian Minister of Communications and Information Technology has stated that identifying the identity of internet users is among the "priorities in progress" of this ministry, asserting that "in the future" there will be no user "without internet identity" in Iran. According to the state news agency IRNA, Mahmoud Vaezi, the Minister of Communications, said on Saturday, December 15, "In the future, we will not have any user without identity, and this will make users... identifiable to the other party." He clarified: "Technical measures regarding this issue are underway, and we will announce the results once finalized." Vaezi also noted that the aim of this plan is not to invade individuals' privacy, but added: "It should be clear what characteristics the person accessing the network has." Vaezi did not provide details about the specifics of this plan and its implementation timeline, but in recent months, reports in Iranian media have discussed the authentication of internet users in the context of plans such as "smart filtering" and "national information network." For instance, Nasrollah Jahanbakhsh, Deputy Minister of Communications, reported on Tuesday, November 19, that the ministry is seeking to prevent access to the internet and mobile services in Iran "without the user's identity being established." Previously, Mehdi Akhavan Bahabadi, Secretary of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace, had mentioned on Wednesday, July 17, that a plan was under review that would require Iranian users to declare their identity and characteristics before using the internet. On November 18, the Minister of Communications and Information Technology announced that the first phase of "smart filtering" would be implemented within a month, with the second phase to be completed in three months and the third phase within six months. Reports indicate that in this type of filtering, access to no website is completely restricted; rather, parts of the content of that site identified by this software will be inaccessible to Iranian users. The Iranian government has also been pursuing a plan called the "national information network" for years, aimed at separating domestic internet users from the global web, claiming it is designed to enhance cybersecurity, counter internet attacks, and boost online business. However, critics of this network are concerned that in addition to the low quality of this network, the Iranian government will use its control to further dominate the numerous internet users in Iran. Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, stated in a session of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace on Saturday, November 24, that the operationalization of this network is a "national necessity." He also called for addressing the shortcomings of the "smart filtering" plan to, as he put it, "protect the content of the virtual space." The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran also urged the Rouhani government on November 28 to immediately stop the government's efforts to monitor online user accounts. In this context, a two-month deadline was given to the Ministry of Communications for "controlling Instagram data."
Identification of Internet Users' Identity Declared a Priority by the Ministry of Communications
The Iranian government is prioritizing the identification of internet users, stating that no user will be allowed to access the internet without an established identity. This initiative is part of broader efforts including smart filtering and the national information network, which have raised concerns about privacy and government control. The developments are significant as they reflect ongoing state efforts to monitor and regulate internet usage in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Iranian government has announced a priority to identify all internet users, stating that no one will be allowed to access the internet without an established identity. This initiative is part of broader plans for smart filtering and a national information network.
- The Minister of Communications emphasized that technical measures for user identification are already in progress.
- The government aims to enhance cybersecurity and control internet access through these measures.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has been increasingly focused on controlling internet access and monitoring users as part of its broader cybersecurity and information management strategies.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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