Is Pezeshkian breaking his promise to end internet filtering?

President Masoud Pezeshkian’s order to the Supreme Council of Cyberspace to crack down on the sale of anti-filtering software has confused his supporters, as he had previously promised to lift Internet filtering.

“I don’t understand the meaning of this order on anti-filtering software and how it can help remove filtering,” complained reformist political activist Hasan Asadi-Zeidabadi. in a tweet Wednesday.

As president, Pezeshkian heads the Council, which includes several key cabinet members, such as the ministers of telecommunications, intelligence, culture and Islamic guidance, science and technology, education and defense.

Before being elected, Pezeshkian was strongly opposed to internet filtering, which has forced tens of millions of Iranians to pay for anti-filtering software to access thousands of websites and all major social media platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, and YouTube for personal use. use and business use.

Over the past two decades, the Islamic government has censored thousands of websites deemed religiously inappropriate or politically dangerous, while also blocking access to foreign social media. This leaves citizens with no choice but to use circumvention tools, such as VPNs.

Many argue that influential groups and companies selling anti-filtering software have a strong position in the establishment and huge vested interests in the continuation of Internet filtering. A majority of the population spends a few dollars every month on avoidance software.

The president’s supporters expected him to talk about filtering at the first meeting of the Supreme Council for Cyberspace, which met Tuesday for the first time since he took office, and to convince other members to abolish it.

“Sir. Pezeshkian, we did not vote (for you) to investigate the sale of anti-filtering software, we voted because we wanted the filtering removed,” tweeted one disillusioned supporter.

Instead, media reported that he had ordered action against the companies that make hundreds of millions of dollars selling anti-filtering software and refused to set a definitive deadline for removing the filtering.

Many argue that influential groups and companies selling anti-filtering software have a strong position in the establishment. These groups, they say, have strong, vested interests in continuing the filtering.

“Sir. President, trust us that one of the most important things for the national unity and dignity of Iran is to normalize the conditions of the Internet (access). Remove the filtering and the mafia (controlling sales) of anti-filtering software will disappear on its own.” journalist Ehsan Bodaghi tweeted.

The news website Rouydad24 argued along the same lines on Wednesday, saying that Pezeshkian’s order to take action against anti-filtering software vendors could be an indication that there was “no will to lift social network filtering in the short term.”

“The challenges in Pezeshkian’s path have not stopped people from holding him accountable,” Rouydad24 wrote. “He promised to lift the filtering and even promised to risk his life.”

Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani stated on Wednesday that the government is actively addressing the removal of filtering through various relevant agencies and councils, and expressed hope that the promise to the public will be fulfilled soon.

The Supreme Council for Cyberspace was established in February 2012 by a decree by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, which tasked him with establishing a “national cyberspace center” and gave him the power to decide internet control policies.

The majority of Council members are directly appointed by Khamenei (‘natural’ members) or hold their positions through roles in other parts of the government that he assigns to them.

These include the Chief Justice, the Speaker of Parliament, the head of the state broadcaster, as well as the commanders of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and law enforcement forces (police).