Pause on tougher Hijab law, lifting of ban on WhatsApp, Google, Iran taking these steps due to…

Iran web restrictions: Iran has officially lifted the ban of Meta’s WhatsApp messenger and the Google Play Store, per week after the Islamic nation put on hold a stringent Hijab law, which had been passed by the Iranian Parliament in September 2023. Consistent with the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), the choice to lift the ban on WhatsApp and Google Play, came following a gathering wherein the heads of all three branches of presidency, ministers, and members of the Supreme Council, participated.

Right through the meeting, discussions serious about reviewing and adjusting policies surrounding web governance and restrictions. Following the presentation of assessments from relevant authorities, the council approved changes to the existing web restrictions, IRNA reported.

Iranian authorities have officially lifted the ban on WhatsApp and the Google Play Store, signalling a giant shift in the country’s web restrictions, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.

“A favorable majority vote has been reached to lift limitations on access to just a couple of popular foreign platforms equivalent to WhatsApp and Google Play”, IRNA, the country’s official news agency, said in a tweet.

The move to lift the ban aligns with the Iranian government’s broader technique to managing its digital landscape, emphasising the importance of regulated cyberspace governance while also stressing the necessity to improve domestic platforms, it said.

Sattar Hashemi, Iran’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology, also took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce the event, declaring, “This day, we took step one towards lifting web restrictions with cohesion and collaboration. I extend my gratitude to the President, media, and activists for his or her efforts. We want this team spirit more than ever. This path continues.”

‘Local platforms might be priority’

Nonetheless, despite lifting the ban on global global products and services like WhatsApp and Google Play, the Iranian government has emphasised that its approach will continue to prioritise the event and use of local platforms, based on IRNA.

Eliminating curbs on web usage and platforms became one in the total key promises made by President Masoud Pezeshkian the total way through his presidential campaign, and this decision marks an early fulfilment of that commitment.

Notably, social media platforms were used widely in Iran the total way through anti-government protests. In September, the US had Big Tech to help evade online censorship in countries with heavy web censorship, including Iran and Russia.

Iran shelves hijab law

Meanwhile, the easing of web curbs comes fresh on the heels of each other momentous decision last week when Iran paused the technique of implementing a brand new and stricter hijab law for women. The law had been approved by Iranian parliament in September last year but will on December 18, it became revealed that the law will now no longer be sent to the federal government for approval.

The temporary shelved hijab law levies harsher punishments for women who refuse to wear the hijab and for businesses that serve them, penalties in the past rejected by Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian as attempts to restart talks with the West over sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear program.