Iranian authorities have lifted the ban on Meta’s WhatsApp and Google Play, marking the first step in reducing the country’s stringent internet restrictions, state media reported on Tuesday.
Known for having some of the strictest internet controls globally, Iran routinely blocks access to U.S.-based platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. However, many tech-savvy Iranians bypass these restrictions using virtual private networks.
The decision to allow access to WhatsApp and Google Play follows a high-level meeting led by President Masoud Pezeshkian. “A positive majority vote has been reached to lift limitations on access to some popular foreign platforms such as WhatsApp and Google Play,” the state-run IRNA news agency reported.
Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Sattar Hashemi, described the move as a significant development, stating, “Today the first step in removing internet limitations has been taken.”
Social media platforms have played a critical role in anti-government protests in Iran, enabling citizens to organize and share information despite government-imposed restrictions.
The United States has previously urged Big Tech companies to help circumvent online censorship in heavily restricted countries, including Iran.
