TEHRAN: Banned from using popular Western mobile apps, Iranian citizens have had little choice but to use state-backed alternatives as the authorities tighten Internet restrictions for security causes following months of protests.
Iranian nationals are accustomed to using virtual private networks (VPNs), to evade restrictions and access banned websites or apps, including the US-owned Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
The authorities imposed total Internet blackouts during the protests that started after the death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, following her arrest for an alleged violation of the country’s women’ dress code.
Connections are restored and running again, and even those who are technology-savvy are being corralled into using the mobile apps approved by the authorities like Neshan for navigation and Snapp! to avail a car ride.
In total, 89 million people have signed up to Iranian messaging apps, including Ita, Rubika, Bale, and Soroush, authorities say, but not everyone is willing to make the switch.
Unwillingness for domestic apps
Mansour Roghani, a resident of Tehran, told AFP that the topics he followed and the friends he communicated with were not on Iranian platforms. Roghani added that he used Telegram and WhatsApp and, if his VPN still allowed him, he would check Instagram. Roghani further said that he did not install domestic apps as replacements.
At the height of the massive Amini protests in October last year, the Iranian government cited security reasons and moved to restrict Internet access, adding WhatsApp and Instagram to its long list of blocked applications.
Issa Zarepour, Telecommunications Minister, said last month that no one wanted to limit the Internet. The government could have international platforms if the foreign firms agreed to introduce representative offices in Iran. –AFP
