'The Cyber Space Protection Plan,' which faced numerous criticisms and reactions when it was first introduced in the Islamic Consultative Assembly a few years ago, has once again been put on the agenda in the final days of the 11th Parliament. ILNA news agency reported on Saturday, May 22, that this plan, now renamed 'The Plan for the Protection of Users' Rights in Cyber Space,' has been reintroduced due to the insistence of the Stability Front and 'super-revolutionary' critics of Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the Speaker of the Parliament. Previously, Jalal Rashidi Kouchi, a member of Parliament, criticized the potential return of this plan, stating that it represents a 'deal' by Qalibaf 'at the expense of the people's interests' with a 'specific current' aimed at securing the presidency in the next Parliament. Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, the former Minister of Communications and Information Technology, also reacted to this issue on his Telegram channel on Sunday, May 23, stating that this development indicates that supporters of this plan have 'lost hope for its approval in the next Parliament given its composition.' Azari Jahromi further noted that these individuals 'believe that, considering the performance of the 13th government, the likelihood of a single-term government is high, and thus they want to pass a law that permanently removes the command of internet development from governments.' Additionally, Kamaliz Norouzi, a lawyer, wrote on Telegram on Saturday: 'The Cyber Space Protection Plan is broadly aimed at severely restricting citizens' access to the web and various platforms.' Norouzi continued, 'Representatives later changed the name of this plan and misleadingly titled it the plan for the protection of users' rights in cyber space, which violates all users' rights.' In October of last year, the non-governmental organization 'Freedom House' reported that Iran experienced the worst decline in internet freedom globally in 2023, with a five-point drop on a scale of 100, and that 'digital repression' in the country has intensified. Internet access in Iran faces extensive restrictions, and users employ VPNs or proxies to access websites or applications blocked by the government. Previous reports indicated that parts of the government or its affiliates are involved in the VPN trade and profit significantly from it. The use of proxies in Iran was officially banned following the Supreme Leader's approval.
The 'Cyber Space Protection Plan' Reintroduced in the Final Days of the 11th Parliament
The controversial 'Cyber Space Protection Plan' has been reintroduced in the Iranian Parliament, now under a new name aimed at user rights. Critics argue it is a political maneuver by Speaker Qalibaf to secure power in the next Parliament. This plan is significant as it threatens to further restrict internet freedoms in Iran amidst increasing digital repression.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Cyber Space Protection Plan has been reintroduced in the Iranian Parliament under a new name, aiming to restrict internet access while claiming to protect users' rights. Critics argue this is a political strategy by Speaker Qalibaf to secure influence in the next Parliament.
- The plan has faced significant criticism for its potential to limit internet freedoms in Iran.
- Iran has seen a notable decline in internet freedom, with increased digital repression reported.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has a history of stringent internet controls, and recent reports indicate a worsening situation for digital rights. The government often employs restrictive measures to maintain control over information.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%