Islamic Republic's digital repression

While authorities imposed the blackout on Jan. 8 to choke off protest coordination and reporting, new data suggests the disruption is evolving rather than easing.

Samuel Wendel
Samuel Wendel
Jan 20, 2026
Backlit image of Iranian demonstrators holding national flags and portraits during an anti-Khamenei protest at Syntagma Square in Athens, Greece, on Jan. 11, 2026. — Elvis Takahashi Mantello / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images

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This week, we explore the role of technology in Iran’s current unrest — from Tehran’s new system of digital control to crypto transaction trends and how artificial intelligence is fueling disinformation.

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