The United States is pleased to join the Coalition for Online Freedom’s joint consensus statement on Internet Shutdowns in Iran.
We, the members of the Online Freedom Alliance, are very proud of, and strongly condemn, Iran’s measures to restrict access to the Internet following the nationwide protests over the tragic killing of Mahsa Amini. In order to continue a long-standing pattern of censorship, the Iranian government has once again shut down the Internet on a large scale for most of its 84 million citizens across the country by cutting off mobile data; disrupting popular social media platforms; Internet service provider; and block individual users, encrypted DNS services, text messages, and full access.
Millions of Iranians rely on these and other tools to connect with each other and the outside world. By blocking, filtering or shutting down these services, the Iranian government has the right to suppress the right to peaceful assembly and freedoms of association and expression; erosion of civic space; reinforcing a continuing climate of economic uncertainty; disrupting access to health care, emergency services and financial services; prohibiting salary, utility and education payments; and limit the ability of journalists, human rights defenders, and others to report and document human rights violations or abuses occurring during Internet shutdowns, or communications disruptions.
We strongly urge the Government of Iran to immediately end restrictions intended to disrupt or prevent its citizens from accessing and disseminating information online and from conducting safe and secure communications. Moving forward, we also call on the Iranian authorities to refrain from imposing partial or total Internet shutdowns and blocking or filtering services and to respect Iran’s international human rights obligations, including under Articles 19, 21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. .
We continue to stand in solidarity with the people of Iran as they seek to exercise their rights to freedom of opinion and expression, both online and offline.
