Internet access in Iran was partially restored earlier this week after an 88-day blackout. Real-time data from NetBlocks, a global internet monitor based in London, and the IT company Cloudflare show a significant increase in web traffic compared to recent weeks.
"Web traffic is still lower than it was before January. Back then, it was around 50%," said cybersecurity expert Amir Rashidi.
Rashidi is the director of the Miaan Group, a US-based organization that advocates for human rights, digital freedom, and social justice in Iran and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
He points out that the internet in Iran has been severely disrupted since the deadly crackdown on nationwide demonstrations in January. During the unrest, authorities significantly throttled internet access to disrupt communication both within the country and with the outside world..
Iran experienced the longest nationwide internet shutdown in recent history following the US-Israeli attacks on Iran launched on February 28. Authorities cite security reasons for the measure. Critics, however, point out that this method has been used for years to control access to information and communication.
