Internet Blackouts as Political Means: the Case of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Internet Blackouts as Political Means: the Case of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Author(s): Tsvetelina Dzhambazova
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Media studies, Communication studies
Published by: Факултет по журналистика и масова комуникация, Софийски университет „Св. Кл. Охридски”
Keywords: censorship; content filtering; human rights; Islamic Republic of Iran; net blockages; politics
Summary/Abstract: The present article aims to outline the specifications of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s political situation and the reasoning behind Internet blockages and online content filtering. The text summarizes the legal provisions of the local Internet censorship while it puts Iranian net blockages in an international perspective. Special attention is paid to the norms of human rights law and humanitarian law when it comes to the restrictions on the freedom of expression that are the essence of the net-blocking strategy of the Iranian authoritative regime. The article focuses on Iran as a state where such blackouts are not only frequently used but are also quite severe in their scope.

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