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In Iran, internet access becomes a luxury for the few

Deutsche Welle · · 784 words · By Shabnam von Hein
Digital Repression Human rights Economic hardship
open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dw.com/en/in-iran-internet-access-becomes-a-luxury-for-the-few/a-772…

psychologyDetected Techniques

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Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
warning
Appeal to Pity 70% confidence
Evoking sympathy to win support rather than using logical arguments.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

18 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

schedule Pending 8
info Single Source 3
check_circle Corroborated 2
verified Verified By Reference 2
help Insufficient Evidence 2
cancel Disputed 1
info
“Iran's National Security Council recently approved a plan to grant certain groups paid internet access, albeit with a daily usage limit on foreign websites and international data traffic.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While evidence confirms a general internet blackout and the existence of the SNSC, no specific evidence in the provided search results confirms the approval of a 'paid internet access plan' with daily limits for specific groups.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SSNSC) is an official in the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, responsible for coordinating the country's highest decision-making body…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretary_of_the_Supreme_Natio…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Supreme National Security Council (SNSC; Persian: شورای عالی امنیت ملی, romanized: Showrā-ye Āli-ye Amniyat-e Mellī), also known as the Supreme Council for National Security, is the national secur…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_National_Security_Coun…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The United States National Security Council (NSC) is the national security council used by the president of the United States for consideration of national security, military, and foreign policy matte…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_National_Securit…
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“The internet in Iran has been shut down since the US and Israel launched attacks on February 28.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources (Wikipedia, Al Jazeera, and BBC/web search) confirm a near-total internet blackout in Iran starting February 28, 2026, following US and Israeli airstrikes.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On April 12, 2025, Iran and the United States began a series of negotiations aimed at reaching a nuclear peace agreement, following a letter from US president Donald Trump to Iranian supreme leader Al…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025–2026_Iran–United_States_n…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Since 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel have been engaged in a war with Iran and its regional allies. The conflict began when the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, targeting mili…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran_war
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This timeline of the 2026 Iran war covers the period since 28 February 2026. The war is ongoing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_2026_Iran_war
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“The so-called "Internet Pro" does not refer to a technical upgrade but allows users standard internet access that bypasses the block.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence contains general information about VPNs and unblockers, but does not mention a specific service called 'Internet Pro' or its technical nature.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Bypass Network Restrictions: Access websites that are blocked in your country or organization.Maintain Anonymity: Hide your IP address and browsing history from prying eyes.
https://proxyium.com/website-unblocker
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web search NEUTRAL — This is the easiest method to bypass the internet connection while setting up Windows 11. As of November 2025 , you can still use this method on Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2. The patches that block this a…
https://pureinfotech.com/bypass-internet-connection-install-…
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web search NEUTRAL — Adrenaline VPN. Secure internet access service.A simple Telegram bot format rather than a separate, detailed app listing. Overall, Adrenaline VPN fits into the VPN category as a concise tool for users…
https://minitelegram.com/en/apps/Adrenaline_VPN_bot
verified
“major platforms like Instagram, X, and YouTube—which have long been blocked in Iran—still cannot be used even by many Internet Pro users without using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
While the evidence confirms that Instagram, X, and YouTube are generally censored in Iran, there is no specific evidence regarding the accessibility of these platforms for 'Internet Pro' users.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This list contains the top 50 accounts with the most followers on the social media platform Instagram. As of May 2026, Instagram's own account is the most-followed with over 685 million followers; the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most-followed_Instagra…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Censorship of video-sharing platform YouTube occurs to varying degrees in many countries.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_of_YouTube
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — YouTube is an American online video-sharing platform headquartered in San Bruno, California, founded by three former PayPal employees—Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim—in February 2005. Google …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_YouTube
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“Eikder has been living in exile in Europe for five years. She works for "Filterban," a research initiative focusing on internet censorship, digital repression and surveillance in Iran.”
SINGLE SOURCE
Search results show a YouTube channel and LinkedIn profiles for Solmaz Eikder, but do not confirm her residence in Europe for five years or her employment with 'Filterban'.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Solmaz Eikder. @solmazeikder3723. • 50 subscribers • 51 videos.1.5K views 5 years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNu9sSrC2DXAcaET6i1lYRg
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web search NEUTRAL — View the profiles of professionals named "Solmaz Eikder" on LinkedIn. There are 2 professionals named "Solmaz Eikder", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities.
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Solmaz/Eikder
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web search NEUTRAL — Log in to your ResearchGate account to access 160+ million publication pages and connect with 25+ million researchers.
https://www.researchgate.net/login
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“The shutdown, which has now lasted for more than 80 days, is thelongest yet in Iran”
DISPUTED
There is a contradiction in the evidence regarding the duration. One source (EL PAÍS) calls it the longest shutdown ever, but another source (web search result from April 5, 2026) explicitly states it had lasted 37 days as of that date, which contradicts the 'more than 80 days' claim.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Since 8 January 2026, the twelfth day of the 2025–2026 protests in Iran, Iranian authorities imposed an internet blackout. Reports from Iran described widespread telephone and internet blackouts in Te…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Internet_blackout_in_Iran
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Since 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel have been engaged in a war with Iran and its regional allies. The conflict began when the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, targeting mili…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran_war
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — This timeline of the 2026 Iran war covers the period since 28 February 2026. The war is ongoing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_2026_Iran_war
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
“This most recently occurred during the nationwide protests in January, which the regime brutally suppressed.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia and other web search results explicitly confirm that Iranian authorities imposed an internet blackout starting January 8, 2026, during nationwide protests.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Since 8 January 2026, the twelfth day of the 2025–2026 protests in Iran, Iranian authorities imposed an internet blackout.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Internet_blackout_in_Iran
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — iran shutdown economy image 1. In Iran, the internet has been shut down since the evening of January 8, when anti-government protests spread across the country.
https://asl19.org/en/blog/2026-01-22-what-is-the-impact-of-i…
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web search NEUTRAL — Internet freedom campaigners at Access Now say Iran has consistently used shutdowns as a way to mask mass violence and brutal crackdowns on protesters, as seen during the nationwide internet shutdowns…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg5gegrdq3go
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“According to government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohadscherani, Internet Pro is intended to "prevent disruptions to economic activity and ensure business communication in times of crisis."”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources (Wikipedia and web search) attribute statements to government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani regarding the intention to maintain business connectivity/prevent disruption during the shutdown.
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web search NEUTRAL — On 15 January, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani stated that access to international websites would remain unavailable until at least the Iranian New Year,[88] which occurs on 20 March.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Internet_blackout_in_Iran
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web search NEUTRAL — Yet during the January protests, even with the internet shut down, reports and video evidence of extrajudicial killings, arrests and beatings trickled out.Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani sa…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgzk91leweo
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani lashed out at reporters during a news conference in Tehran on Tuesday, after they pressed her on the internet shutdown.
https://www.aljazeera.com/editorial/2026/5/14/iran-expands-t…
help
“The plan is offered to certain professional groups, such as members of the Chamber of Commerce, startups, technology companies and retailers.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding the specific professional groups eligible for the plan.
help
“They receive an initial package of 50 gigabytes of data, which costs about $11.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding the cost or data volume of the internet packages.
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“Inflation has risen to over 50%, while the rial has lost significant value against the dollar”
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“The newspaper Shargh and other media outlets have criticized the introduction of Internet Pro”
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“Women who serve as their families' primary breadwinners and who previously earned income online, along with students, are not included among the groups who can access Internet Pro.”
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“In the system, every user is identified via their national ID number and registered mobile number.”
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“DW, which has been blocked online in Iran since 2009.”
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“Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has promised in recent weeks that internet service will soon be restored.”
PENDING
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“A new crisis management team led by Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has been established to put an end to the "multiplicity of voices" and overlapping jurisdictions in Iran's internet policy.”
PENDING
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“According to information from the newspaper Sharq, government officials have been expressly prohibited from publicly explaining the details or responsibilities of the new body or discussing it with the media.”
PENDING
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.