Iranian authorities have lifted the ban on Meta's WhatsApp and Google Play, marking a significant step towards reducing internet restrictions in the country. This decision was reported by Iranian state media and follows a vote led by President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The Islamic Republic has long imposed strict controls on internet access, blocking major U.S.-based social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. However, many Iranians have managed to bypass these restrictions using virtual private networks (VPNs).
According to the official IRNA news agency, the vote to lift the ban was described as a 'positive majority,' and the Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Sattar Hashemi, stated that this represents the first step in removing internet limitations.
Social media has played a crucial role in anti-government protests across Iran, and the recent U.S. call for Big Tech to assist in circumventing online censorship in heavily restricted countries like Iran adds further context to this development.