"Iran: Internet Shutdown Violates Rights, Escalates Risks to Civilians" 6 March 2026
Iranian authorities should immediately end the ongoing internet shutdown and communications restrictions, which place civilians at risk of further harm, Human Rights Watch said today. The international community should also support internet access for the civilian population...
Cloudflare Radar, a network measurement platform that provides real-time information on internet traffic, said that internet traffic in Iran dropped by 98 percent on February 28, signaling a near-complete blackout. State affiliated media have indicated that only pre-approved websites are accessible through the National Information Network...During the 12-day Israel-Iran armed conflict in June 2025, Iranian authorities imposed a similar near-total internet shutdown...
Such sweeping internet shutdowns violate a range of human rights. They help conceal large-scale atrocities, contribute to the spread of mis- and disinformation, and unlawfully restrict access to information. At the same time, the shutdowns severely hamper the work of journalists and human rights monitors, including documentation and reporting on possible laws of war violations by all parties...
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