Under the title "Iranian Law for the Militarization of the Internet Amid Ongoing Protests," Al Arabiya reported that while protests continue in Iran, the Iranian parliament has approved a bill that places the cyberspace under the surveillance of the Revolutionary Guard. Amnesty International states that Iranian authorities use internet shutdowns to cover up violations against protesters. The decision faced widespread rejection from political and civil activists, social media users, and even some officials within the Iranian system.
This rejection disturbed the parliament speaker, who was traveling to Syria during the vote, prompting him to defend a bill he did not physically attend to vote on. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the Iranian parliament speaker, stated in defense: "Most claims regarding the internet bill are incorrect."
Support for the internet militarization law also came from within the system, while opposition was also expressed internally. Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council, was surprised by the bill while the Iranian people are facing various economic difficulties. Meanwhile, member of the parliament's foreign policy committee, Amir Kazemi Rouhollah Hazratpour, noted that the project would put millions of businesses and companies that use the internet in crisis.
The timing of the bill coinciding with the protests in Ahvaz and their expansion to several Iranian provinces raised many questions, while Amnesty International asserts that Iranian authorities are using internet shutdowns to obscure the use of lethal force against protesters. Observers note that this legislation comes days before the inauguration of the new Iranian president, suggesting it prepares the ground for tighter control in line with the new administration's inclinations, and that internal opposition is part of a political game skillfully played by the system in Iran over the years.
