Story perspectives

Iran's Internet Blackout Leaves 90 Million Disconnected

4/15/2026

Summary

Story summary

Iran's internet blackout, triggered by U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28, has reduced connectivity to about 1%.
The Iranian government has criminalized Starlink terminals with severe penalties for possession.
About 90 million Iranians remain disconnected.
Critics say the outage aims to control information amid the ongoing conflict.
Human rights groups condemn the shutdown as a violation of rights and emergency information access amid military actions.

History

Historical Context

The 2009 Iranian presidential election sparked widespread protests against alleged electoral fraud, leading to severe government crackdowns on communication. The regime's tactics included internet blackouts, which have continued through subsequent protests, including the 2019 fuel protests that resulted in over 1,500 deaths. Today, as connectivity issues affect approximately 90 million Iranians, these historical patterns of censorship raise significant concerns about human rights and civil liberties in Iran.

1 of 2

Story summary

Iran's internet blackout, triggered by U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28, has reduced connectivity to about 1%.
The Iranian government has criminalized Starlink terminals with severe penalties for possession.
About 90 million Iranians remain disconnected.
Critics say the outage aims to control information amid the ongoing conflict.
Human rights groups condemn the shutdown as a violation of rights and emergency information access amid military actions.

1 / 2