Iranians threatened with legal action for using VPNs to bypass internet blocks — here's everything we know

• Iran's authorities are issuing warnings to residents defying online blocks
• Connecting to the internet with a VPN "will be treated as a crime," they warn
• Iran's internet connectivity has remained at 1% since February 28

Iranians attempting to access the global internet face the threat of criminal prosecution as a "near-complete" digital blackout enters its second week.

Local authorities and telecom operators are reportedly issuing direct warnings via SMS to citizens who have used VPNs to circumvent ongoing restrictions, according to reporting from France24.

The messages warn that repeated attempts to connect to the international internet will result in blocks and cases being referred to judicial authorities.

Those using satellite hardware like Starlink to bypass the national gateway are also at significant risk of arrest.

Texas-based digital rights group Filterwatch confirmed the development, noting that citizens evading the communication blackout may face immediate legal action.

Iranian cybersecurity expert Azam Jangravi described the move as a desperate attempt by the state to control the flow of information during a period of intense regional conflict.

Writing on X, Jangravi said: "The goal is clear: they shut down the internet so only their narrative can be heard."

Iran’s internet blackout hits the seven-day mark

Internet monitoring groups, including Cloudflare Radar and NetBlocks , confirm that national connectivity has flatlined at just 1% of ordinary levels. These widespread restrictions began on Saturday, February 28, following reports of military strikes in the region.

While it remains unclear if the initial disruptions were caused by physical damage to infrastructure from airstrikes, the targeted SMS warnings indicate authorities are attempting to restrict access to the global internet.

Iran has a long history of cutting off online communications during times of political turmoil. According to Surfshark data, Iran has restricted the internet 63 times since 2015.

The current shutdown is the most severe since the Twelve-Day War last June and the anti-government protests in January.

Surfshark CTO Donatas Budvytis called the total shutdown a "brutal infringement of human rights," noting that it plunges 90 million people into digital isolation at a time when access to information is a matter of physical safety.

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