Iranian authorities threaten legal action over VPN use

Iranian officials are issuing SMS warnings to citizens bypassing internet restrictions. The messages target those using VPNs or Starlink to access global web content. This comes amid a near-total internet blackout in the country.

Iran has imposed a near-total internet blackout, prompting many citizens to use virtual private networks (VPNs) and Starlink to regain access to the global web. In response, Iranian authorities have begun sending SMS warnings to individuals detected circumventing these blocks.

The notifications explicitly threaten prosecution for using such tools. According to reports, the authorities are monitoring successful bypass attempts and alerting users directly via text messages. This escalation highlights ongoing efforts to enforce internet restrictions within Iran.

The measures reflect broader controls on online access, though specific details on the blackout's duration or triggers remain limited in available information. No further official statements from Iranian officials were detailed in the coverage.

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Dramatic nighttime scene of Iranian protests in Tehran under internet blackout, with crowds clashing against riot police amid tear gas and fires, symbolizing deaths, detentions, and international threats.
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Iran protests spread under near-total internet blackout as rights group reports at least 62 dead; Khamenei and Trump trade threats

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Nationwide protests in Iran that began on December 28, 2025, after a sharp currency slide and broader economic distress entered a second week as authorities imposed a sweeping internet and communications blackout and security forces moved to intensify a crackdown. A U.S.-based rights group said at least 62 people have been killed and more than 2,300 detained, while exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi urged further demonstrations and appealed to President Donald Trump for support as European leaders and the United Nations called for restraint.

Russia's recent ban on Telegram, a key messaging app, is reportedly hindering its military communications in Ukraine. The move, aimed at promoting a state-owned alternative, has drawn criticism from soldiers reliant on the service. Combined with restrictions on Starlink access, it has affected drone operations on the front lines.

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Russia has implemented blocks on popular platforms including YouTube, Telegram and WhatsApp through DNS and deep packet inspection technologies. The government is promoting its state-controlled alternative, MAX, amid these restrictions. Citizens are seeking workarounds, though VPNs are also facing targeting.

A new report from Surfshark highlights that internet censorship impacted half the world's population in 2025, affecting 4.6 billion people. The company warns that the situation is set to worsen in 2026. This assessment comes amid growing concerns over digital freedoms globally.

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The United States has deployed an aircraft carrier strike group to Middle Eastern waters, as Tehran warns of retaliation against any American attack in response to the crackdown on anti-government protests. Rights groups have confirmed nearly 6,000 deaths in the protests suppressed by Iranian security forces, though the actual toll could be several times higher. An 18-day internet shutdown has obscured the full extent of the violence.

An unidentified foreign vessel was found using a foreign-made low-Earth orbit satellite communication device during a routine inspection at Ningbo port in China's Zhejiang province, according to a report. The device was identified as a Starlink terminal, and the ship continued transmitting data after entering Chinese territorial waters. This marks the first successful regulatory action against illegal use of such LEO satellite communications in Chinese waters.

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The death toll in Iran's ongoing protests, which began December 28, 2025, over economic woes and have since spread nationwide, has surged to at least 490 according to HRANA, up from 62 reported earlier this week. Hospitals in Tehran are overwhelmed, the internet blackout persists, and protesters are using smuggled Starlink terminals to communicate. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson condemns the violence.

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