"I have never seen such a thing in my life" – Iran completely shuts down the internet amid protests, Starlink also affected

• Iran imposed an internet shutdown on January 8 amid growing protests
• VPNs cannot help people get back online, Starlink also targeted
• Iranians have been protesting the economic crisis since December 28

Iran imposed a near-total internet blackout on Thursday (January 8) as citizens took to the streets for the 12th consecutive day of protests.

Multiple network monitoring organizations confirmed that the blackout began at approximately 6:45 pm UTC (10:15 pm local time).

Cloudflare Radar reported on X that internet traffic in Iran had dropped to "effectively zero," signaling a complete shutdown.

Prior to the total blackout, a sharp drop in IPv6 traffic was recorded. Cloudflare noted this early drop likely indicated the government was selectively blocking internet access as protests intensified.

The shutdown is ongoing. NetBlocks data shows national connectivity is "flatlining at ~1% of ordinary levels."

Amir Rashidi, Director of Internet Security and Digital Rights at the Miaan Group, confirmed that while global access is down, the domestic mobile network – often referred to as the National Information Network – now appears to be functioning in the country.

Rashidi also reported that international phone calls into the country have been disrupted, adding: "We witnessed this same situation during the war."

Are there any workarouds?

Blocking the internet during times of political turmoil is a widespread tactic among authoritarian governments seeking to disrupt communications, both internally and internationally.

While restricting access to WhatsApp, Signal, or X severely disrupts citizens' ability to stay in touch, these targeted blocks are often easy to bypass by using the best VPN apps.

However, a VPN requires an active internet connection to function, which means they offer little help during an nationwide internet shutdown.

Proton VPN has reported that its traffic from Iran has dropped significantly since the blackout began.

Iranians have reportedly turned to Starlink connections to get back online.

Because the SpaceX service relies on satellite infrastructure rather than local cables, it is theoretically resistant to traditional internet restrictions.

However, Rashidi and other sources in Iran indicate the state is now targeting these connections. By jamming GPS and satellite signals, authorities have reportedly degraded Starlink performance, with data suggesting packet loss has reached 30%.

"I have been monitoring and researching access to the internet for the past 20 years, and I have never seen such a thing in my life," Rashidi told TechRadar.

Azam Jangravi, Lead Security at OpenText, confirmed that most citizens remain cut off from the global internet.

"It’s one of the worst shutdowns we’ve seen in years," she said. "This kind of shutdown is devastating. People can’t share what’s happening, can’t reach loved ones, can’t work or study. It’s isolating."

Why Iran is shutting down the internet?

Mass anti-government rallies have erupted across multiple cities in Iran since the end of December, driven by the country's deepening economic crisis.

These demonstrations appear to be the largest in Iran since the 2022 movement following the death of Mahsa Amini.

France 24 reports that at least 42 people have died so far in the recent crackdown, according to human rights observers.

Jangravi warned that the ongoing internet blackout could obscure further violence, causing the situation to deteriorate rapidly.

"The risks are huge," she told TechRadar. "Without the internet, there’s no way to document abuses or organize safely. I worry things could escalate. But I also know Iranians are resilient. They always find ways to speak, even in the dark."

Digital rights group Access Now is now calling on authorities in Iran to immediately restore full access to the internet. "Access Now continues to monitor the situation closely and stands with the people of Iran who are demanding their fundamental freedoms and human rights."

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