The Iranian regime has activated an internet ‘kill switch’ in an apparent attempt to cover up alleged abuses by security forces as protests against it intensified across the country, a cyber security expert has claimed.
The power outage reduced internet access to a fraction of normal levels on the 13th day of the protests. Amensty Internationalaccused the regime of using lethal force against demonstrators.
“This was a step-by-step measure that ultimately covered the entire country, with the government prepared to use these types of measures for a longer period of time,” he said.
“There would be an attempt by the regime to cover up crimes it may have committed, so this blackout could potentially last days or weeks,” Toker added.
Protester climbs the Iranian embassy in London, takes down the regime’s flag and raises the pre-revolution symbol
Protesters gather as vehicles burn amid developing anti-government unrest in Tehran, Iran, in this screen capture obtained from a social media video released Friday. (Social media/via Reuters)
Authorities say at least 65 people have been killed in the protests Human rights activists in Iransaying late Friday that the death toll had more than doubled since earlier this week.
The group also reported that more than 2,300 people have been arrested and the demonstrations have spread to at least 180 cities across the country. Most of those killed were protesters, the group said.
“People in Iran who dare to express their anger at decades of repression and demand fundamental change are once again confronted with a deadly pattern of security forces unlawfully shooting, chasing, arresting and beating protesters,” Amnesty International also said in a statement statement Thursday.
“The single kill switch is the censorship mechanism centrally controlled by the regime, so there are no legal processes or mechanisms to push people back,” Toker said.
“We now know that they have centralized all of this into a one-step operation,” he explained, calling it “very much a top-down mechanism.”
“It’s been in development since the Cold War, and it means they can triangulate the ground terminal on satellite transmissions. Some governments are implementing this kind of ‘kill switch’ in their cyber operations rooms,” he said.
ARMED IRAN protesters battle police in the streets of Tehran as Trump warns of strong US response
“We know that it was a difficult measure in 2019, for example, when the government had to close companies one by one, city by city.”
NetBlocks said the current blackout is one of the most severe ever recorded in Iran.
“We are currently following a near-total shutdown of internet services across Iran, and connectivity is below 2% of normal levels,” Toker said.
“This is a nationwide disruption that affects almost all services, all connectivity and all aspects of life, and goes beyond just mobile phones and computers,” he said.
“It affects banks and essential services, and there is very little communication in the country, meaning people cannot reach the outside world and no one can communicate.”
EXILED Iranian CROWN PRINCE URGES TRUMP TO HELP AS PROTESTS AGAINST THE ISLAMIC REGIME INTENSIFY: ‘MAN OF PEACE’
Despite the sweeping restrictions, some limited communication channels remain available, Toker revealed.
“There are a few gaps, so it is possible to communicate with people close to the borders via Wi-Fi or a mobile service that crosses the borders,” he said.
“It is also occasionally possible to find a part in the service, in a regular service, that they can all tunnel through, but that is becoming increasingly rare and is no longer an option.
“Another mechanism we have seen is satellite internet access, namely the Starlink network, but the equipment has been banned by the Iranian regime.”
“The technology that the Iranian regime uses to trace connections is essentially anti-spy technology,” he said.
“These measures are typically imposed by the most authoritarian regimes, the most controlling governments that seek to silence and oppress their own people,” Toker said.
“NetBlocks followed a very similar multi-week disruption in 2019 that killed thousands of people, and this was also done in 2022 when people protested the killing of Mahsa Amini.”
Iranian MILITARY LEADER THREATENS PREEMPTIVE ATTACK AFTER TRUMP COMMENTS
Iranian demonstrations have intensified in recent days with the sound of gunfire in the streets. (National Council of Resistance of Iran)
‘In previous incidents we have seen the government trying to keep a basic level of service available.
“In this recent case they pulled the plug, so there is a much more extreme measure in place here, which indicates that the regime is afraid and not taking risks when it comes to the possibility of information reaching the outside world.”
President Donald Trump warned Iranian leaders on Friday against using force against protesters.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, he warned that Iran is in “big trouble.”
“I just hope that the protesters in Iran will be safe because that is a very dangerous place right now,” Trump said. “You better not start shooting, because we’re going to start shooting too.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“The US has encouraged democracy in Iran, and that is a positive thing right now,” Toker said.
“There is very little that can be done from the outside, but it is important to continue to support positive efforts.
“A free and open internet in Iran, as well as in other countries, can promote democracy and support fundamental freedoms,” he added.
