Authorities must do everything in their power to ensure internet access for all in Iran.' 'In the past, the Iranian government has demonstrated a similar pattern of preferential treatment and tiered access, in which institutions including banks, news agencies, police stations, and government offices have remained connected to the internet, while regular people in Iran, who use the same ISPs, have been disconnected.

'We also call on the Iranian government to enact policies, practices, and legislation in line with international human rights law that recognizes the fundamental role that the internet plays in the exercise of human rights, and guards against shutdowns,' they write. In a joint statement, groups including Access Now, PEN America and Reporters Without Borders are calling on the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to demand that Iran reverse its moves. Iran is one of the world's worst offenders when it comes to internet shutdowns, blocking internet access at least five times during 2021.

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