Mass surveillance in Iran looks into Iranian government surveillance of its citizens.[1][2][3]

Surveillance technology

According to a report by surveillance research group IPVM, Tiandy Technologies is selling surveillance technology to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, police, and military. The company sells cameras and AI-enabled software, such as facial recognition technology, software that claims to detect someone's race, and "smart" interrogation tables and "tiger chairs".[4][5][6] According to reports, Tiandy has signed a five-year deal to supply video surveillance equipment to Iran. Iran has unveiled plans for a "social credit" system as well as its own "Great Firewall," which will allow the government to block foreign information as it sees fit.[7]

Phone Apps for Mass Surveillance

On 15 February 2018, The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) claimed that the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Ministry of Intelligence and Security are using a web of state-produced mobile phone applications to conduct "mass surveillance" of protesters and dissidents.[8] The said spyware-enabled apps are available on Google Play, Apple Store, and GitHub.[9][10]

VPN

In March 2022, it was announced that using VPNs in Iran might become illegal under the new Iran Internet Law. On March 17, Article 19, along with more than 50 other organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Access Now, called on Iranian authorities and those in bilateral talks with the country to pressure the Iranian parliament to repeal the 'User Protection Bill.' Foreign tech companies operating in Iran, such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter, will be required to follow all of the Bill's provisions, appoint a representative in the country, and submit the identification and history of their users' activities to the government upon request. Platforms that do not comply with the government's requirements will face bandwidth limiting and bans.[11][12][13]

Human Rights and Iranian Internet Bill

A group of human rights organizations criticized Iran's attempts to impose extensive censorship and governmental control over the country's internet infrastructure. In March 2022, the Iranian Parliament approved the "draconian" Regulatory System for Cyberspace Services Bill — formerly known as the User Protection Bill. If passed, it "would violate an array of human rights of Iranians, including the right to freedom of expression and right to privacy." Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Global Voices, and other rights organizations signed a joint statement urging Tehran to "immediately withdraw the measure in its entirety."[14]

Iran Intranet

On 24 August 2020, several members of the Iranian Majlis Parliament submitted a proposal to the parliament's presidium to "organize social media," highlighting the importance of replacing foreign messaging applications with native ones. On 7 September 2020, it was reported that if Internet platforms do not comply with the Islamic Republic's laws and regulations, they will be censored.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "Iran: Government surveillance capacity and control, including media censorship and surveillance of individual Internet activity". Archived from the original on 2019-06-16. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  2. ↑ "Special Report: Chinese firm helps Iran spy on citizens'". Reuters. 22 March 2012. Archived from the original on 2022-04-27. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  3. ↑ "Iran 'hides spyware in wallpaper, restaurant and games apps'". BBC News. 8 February 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-08-07. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  4. ↑ Mosley, Tate Ryan (December 15, 2021). "This huge Chinese company is selling video surveillance systems to Iran". MIT Technology Review. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Tiandy: The Chinese Company Sells Surveillance & Repression Tools to IRGC". Iran True. December 16, 2021. p. 1. Archived from the original on December 16, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Chinese company sells video surveillance systems to Iran". Market Research Telecast. December 21, 2021. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  7. ↑ Ikeda, Scott (January 6, 2022). "Chinese Company Found to be Selling Video Surveillance Systems to Iran; Product Line Includes "Ethnicity Tracking," Accessories for Torture Chairs". CPO Magazine. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  8. ↑ Taylor, Guy (February 15, 2018). "Iran Devising Phone Apps For 'Mass Surveillance' of Dissidents, New Report Says". National Council of Resistance of Iran U.S Representative Office. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  9. ↑ Taylor, Guy (February 16, 2018). "Iran devising apps for 'mass surveillance' of regime opponents: Report". AP News. p. 1. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  10. ↑ Taylor, Guy (February 15, 2018). "Iran devising apps for 'mass surveillance' of regime opponents: Report". The Washington Times. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Iran tightens grip on internet freedom". DW. February 15, 2022. Archived from the original on March 25, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  12. ↑ Castro, Chiara (March 26, 2022). "Using a VPN may be a crime under strict new Iran Internet law". Tech Radar.Pro. p. 1. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  13. ↑ Rubin, Michael (December 10, 2019). "Evolution of Iranian surveillance strategies toward the internet and social media". AIE. Archived from the original on January 30, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Human rights groups condemn 'draconian' Iranian internet bill". Arab News. March 17, 2022. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 2, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Security Official Threatens More Internet Censorship As Iran Moves Towards Intranet". Radio Farda. September 7, 2020. p. 1. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
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