Iran’s new internet litmus test ensures only pro-regime voices will be heard online, experts warn

The Jerusalem Post reports on expert warnings regarding Iran's recent internet policy shifts, framing them as a sophisticated form of digital control rather than genuine liberalization. The article highlights how the regime is selectively restoring internet access, creating an 'ideological litmus test' that prioritizes pro-government voices while continuing to digitally isolate the majority of the population.

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While Iran’s rollback on restrictions may seem like a sign that the regime is ending the internet blackout, experts warned that it is a new tool for the regime to feed the Western audience propaganda

According to the report, Iran's deputy science minister has promised access to international sites for researchers and professors, and an 'Internet Pro' package is being offered to select businesses. However, experts like Roger Macmillan, a terrorism and security specialist, dismiss these measures as a "visible face of a control architecture." He points to internal documents outlining a multi-year plan to eliminate foreign technology dependency and rebuild Iran's digital ecosystem under state management, suggesting the internet shutdowns were primarily about control, not just national security during protests.

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The Islamic regime’s selective rollback on internet restrictions has created an ideological litmus test, allowing voices backing the regime to enter online spaces while continuing to isolate the majority of Iranian people digitally, experts told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.

This perspective from the Jerusalem Post emphasizes the Iranian regime's persistent efforts to suppress dissent and control information. The article contrasts the regime's claims with the reality described by experts, who see these internet policies as a continuation of a long-term strategy to solidify state control over the digital sphere. The reporting underscores how international media, like The Post, often interpret such actions through a lens of authoritarianism and human rights concerns, a viewpoint that may differ significantly from how Iranian state media would frame these developments.

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Based on a list we had, steps have been taken to provide professors with access to the international internet, and gradually this will be extended to all professors.

The article also touches upon the context of widespread protests triggered by Iran's economic crisis, noting that UN experts have pointed out how internet blackouts disrupted monitoring of human rights violations. This framing positions Iran as a state actively suppressing its citizens and manipulating information, a narrative consistent with critical international reporting on the country.

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It is the visible face of a control architecture that has been in preparation since at least mid-2025, when internal documents submitted to Iran's National Cyberspace Centre outlined a multi-year plan to eliminate foreign technology dependency and rebuild Iran's digital ecosystem under permanent state management.