Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, known for enforcing some of the world’s strictest internet controls, has called for further regulation of cyberspace. During a meeting with President Masoud Pezeshkian and his cabinet, Khamenei used the recent arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov in France as an example of how other countries also impose stringent internet laws.
“There need to be laws to regulate cyberspace. Everyone does it. Look at the French, they arrested this man and threatened him with 20 years in prison for breaching their laws,” Khamenei remarked, referencing Durov’s arrest in Paris. Durov, a Russian-born citizen of France and the UAE, was detained as part of an investigation into crimes related to child sexual abuse, drug trafficking, and fraudulent transactions on the Telegram platform, according to French prosecutors.
In Iran, where Durov’s platform is blocked, internet access is tightly controlled, with significant restrictions on US-based social media like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. However, many Iranians use virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass these restrictions. Khamenei reiterated his stance on the need for regulation, arguing that cyberspace should be transformed into an opportunity rather than a threat.
This call for tighter control comes amid ongoing debates within the country. President Pezeshkian, who is considered relatively moderate, has previously criticized internet filtering, particularly for its negative impact on Iran’s economy, as many small businesses rely on social media. Despite these criticisms, Iran continues to rank among the top countries globally for internet shutdowns, frequently blocking access to major platforms and disrupting mobile networks, according to the digital rights group Access Now.