The Iranian government has choked off internet access for its population for a week, according to the cybersecurity watchdog NetBlocks, in what observers say is one of the regime’s longest-ever digital blackouts. At least 2,400 people have been killed since the start of Iran’s crackdown on dissent, according to a US-based rights group. But the blackout means that the true death toll could be much higher as the communications shutdown has made it harder to tally, human rights groups say. The blackout makes it nearly impossible for Iranians to get any message out and has fueled a surge of misinformation and disinformation, with AI-generated videos and old footage resurfacing online. For context: The country’s decades-long push to nationalize its internet infrastructure — accelerated by intensifying international sanctions — has given the state far greater capacity to censor, throttle and control online activity.

Source: Egypt Independent January 17, 2026 13:37 UTC