Regime calls for “regulation” as it tightens censorship — from mass surveillance and filtering to repeated blackouts that silence nationwide protests.
On September 18, the state-run website Tabnak published a video of Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel speaking on regime television. His remarks once again exposed the repressive and anti-human nature of the clerical establishment. He declared: “Cyberspace is ownerless; we have long sought to regulate it.”
The real concern behind this statement is not a lack of order, but the regime’s fear of freedom and the independent voices of the Iranian people.
Heavy Surveillance Under the Pretense of “Ownerless” Cyberspace
Despite Haddad-Adel’s claim, cyberspace in Iran is one of the most tightly controlled environments in the world. Dozens of security agencies, from the Ministry of Intelligence to the IRGC, monitor and police online activity. Access to global social media platforms is systematically blocked, and even the smallest online activity can expose citizens to threats, arrests, and prosecution.
A Longstanding Policy of Repression
Haddad-Adel’s remarks reflect a decades-long policy of suppressing free expression. For over four decades, the Iranian regime has held basic rights hostage, silencing dissent and controlling public discourse. Haddad-Adel himself symbolizes this nexus of corruption and repression: he has used nepotism and privileges to benefit his family, while now acting as a so-called cultural overseer advocating for restrictions on millions of Iranians online.
“Regulation” as a Tool to Silence the People
In the regime’s lexicon, “regulation” means censorship, surveillance, and silencing independent voices. Each time officials have spoken about “managing” cyberspace, the result has been broader filtering, harsher security measures, and deeper repression.
Haddad-Adel represents a decaying system terrified of public awareness and scrutiny. He knows the internet remains the last window for Iranians to express the truth and make their voices heard globally. The regime’s project of “regulation” is nothing more than an attempt to shut that window.
The Regime’s Record of Internet Repression
Iran has a well-documented history of using internet blackouts and filtering as a weapon against its own people during periods of unrest:
-
November 2019 protests (Bloody Aban): Nationwide internet access was shut down for nearly a week, reducing connectivity to just 5% of normal levels while security forces massacred protesters.
-
September 2022 protests after Mahsa Amini’s killing: Social media apps like Instagram and WhatsApp were blocked, while regional internet shutdowns were used to disrupt organizing and suppress news of the crackdown.
-
June 2025, during the Iran-Israel war: The regime imposed an almost total internet blackout. International traffic collapsed, mobile and fixed-line communications were severely disrupted, and access dropped by up to 90–97% in some networks.
Latest Statistics on Internet Censorship in Iran
-
VPN usage: Nearly 90% of Iranians now rely on VPNs to bypass censorship. Among youth, this figure rises to 93%, while the overall national rate is about 86%.
-
Press and internet freedom ranking: Iran ranks 176th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders’ 2025 Press Freedom Index.
-
Economic costs: In 2022 alone, restrictions on internet access cost Iran an estimated $773 million, devastating small businesses and online trade.
-
Impact of shutdowns: During major blackouts, overall internet traffic in Iran has dropped by as much as 90%, with only minimal connectivity to international networks.
Conclusion
Haddad-Adel’s recent remarks confirm that senior regime figures remain on the front lines of censorship and repression. Their common goal is to silence the Iranian people and prevent the truth from spreading. Yet history has proven that no power can suppress reality forever. Despite censorship, surveillance, and intimidation, the internet remains a space of exposure, resistance, and the unyielding voice of freedom for the people of Iran.
