In a move to ease internet restrictions, Iran has decided to lift the ban on Meta’s messaging app, WhatsApp, and the Google Play store.
According to international media, Iran is among the countries with the strictest internet controls globally. However, tech-savvy Iranians have been accessing platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and X using virtual private networks (VPNs).
Iran’s state news agency, IRNA, reported that during a meeting chaired by President Masoud Pezeshkian, it was agreed to remove restrictions on popular platforms like WhatsApp and Google Play.
The country’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Sattar Hashemi, described the decision as the first step towards reducing internet restrictions. This move follows widespread use of social media platforms during anti-government protests in Iran.
In September, the US urged major tech companies to assist in bypassing online censorship in heavily restricted countries, including Iran.
