Tuesday, January 20 (Dey 30), which was supposed to be the end point of the “Great Digital Blackout” according to promises by some Members of Parliament, has come to an end. Yet, the internet remains disconnected, and Iranian users are struggling in absolute limbo between the colorful promises of officials and the bitter reality of filtering.
Tuesday Was Supposed to be the Promised Day
Mohammad Seraj, a Member of Parliament, had announced with exemplary certainty that the internet would be reconnected by Tuesday. But now that the clock hands have passed the designated deadline, not only is there no news of the return of the international internet, but the contradictions in the speech and behavior of decision-makers have become more apparent than ever. The question is: Why, despite the President’s explicit order and economic pressures, is the “connect” button not being pressed?
War of Narratives: From the President’s Order to Hardliner Pressure
The root of this broken promise must be sought in the deep rift between power institutions. While the President issued an order to lift restrictions and his Scientific Deputy promised normalization by the weekend, hardline currents, such as Hamid Rasaee, are not only dissatisfied with the current situation but believe that the internet shutdown should have been implemented sooner.
This duality becomes more dangerous when we realize that a spectrum of MPs is seeking permanent blocking and a reshaping of the internet. It appears that the force of opponents to a free internet currently outweighs the executive orders of the Presidential Administration, and the file is being passed hand-to-hand within the Supreme National Security Council.
Playing with Users’ Nerves: From Momentary Google to the Minister’s Silence
In the meantime, the behavior of the Ministry of Communications resembles rubbing salt in the wound. Sattar Hashemi appears in a meeting with MPs but, instead of announcing an exact time, remains silent and asks people to make do with the “native search engine” for now.
On the other hand, we are witnessing strange technical maneuvers; one day Google opens for a few hours, and another day, unstable access to AI platforms like ChatGPT and DeepSeek is established on certain operators. However, precise reports from NetBlocks show that all of this is nothing more than a mirage, and real internet traffic remains near zero. These behaviors strengthen the suspicion of a final test of the National Information Network (NIN) and an attempt to accustom people to a limited internet.
Conclusion: What is the Internet Hostage To?
Is it a technical problem? Certainly not. Is it a security problem? With the subsiding of unrest, this excuse has also faded. What we are witnessing today is confusion amidst various scenarios: from attempts to pass Cyber Police (FATA) plans to ideas for a Tiered Internet and restricting major platforms.
The “Tuesday” promise turned out to be hollow, proving that in the absence of transparency, even the “phased lifting” of restrictions is merely a term used to buy time. People who have found ways to bypass filters are now waiting for practical action, not dates that expire one after another.
