Iran blocks way to bypass Internet filtering system
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s powerful Ministry of Information and Communications Technology has blocked the most popular software used by millions of Iranians to bypass an elaborate official Internet filtering system, stepping up a campaign to gain more control over the way Iranians use the Internet.
As of Thursday, a collection of illegal virtual private networks, or VPNs, was successfully closed off by the ministry, making visits to websites deemed immoral or politically dangerous — like Facebook and Whitehouse.gov — nearly impossible.
Popular mobile applications like Viber, for free phone calls, and Whatsapp, for free text messaging service, have also been experiencing problems.
People trying to visit illegal websites are being directed to a page on which users are encouraged to report illegal use of the Internet. This page, Peyvandha.ir, also explains in Persian that websites that promote “debauchery, boozing, pornography, the sharing of pictures, and advocating ideas against religion” are forbidden.
The VPNs helped users to go online through foreign-based servers, and visit websites anonymously and unrestricted. While illegal in Iran, the software, which requires usernames and passwords, has been widely available in the country.
Industry insiders say that hardware to block the VPNs was installed in the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and its regional centers several months ago, and that after several test periods Iran now has the ability to control the software when used in Iran.
In recent years, Iran’s leaders have been labeling foreign websites and social media networks with increasing frequency as tools operated by foreign intelligence agencies. While several Iranian political figures, among them the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have Facebook pages, the authorities say the pages were created by fans.
While the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology executes Iran’s elaborate filtering policies, the National Center for Cyberspace, established a year ago as the Supreme Council for Cyberspace, decides which websites should be blocked.
Recognizing, however, that unfettered access to the Internet is essential for doing business, conducting research, and other everyday activities, the National Center for Cyberspace last month started offering its own, state-controlled VPN software with the proviso that users promise not to visit sites deemed illegal.