On January 5, Meta’s WhatsApp announced it was launching a proxy server to help users bypass government internet shutdowns, calling the move a means of “putting the power into people’s hands.” The app is currently banned in several countries, including China, North Korea, Syria, Qatar, and, most recently, Iran. WhatsApp’s update was partly in response to severe internet crackdowns in Iran following anti-government protests over Mahsa Amini’s death in September. But Iran is no stranger to digital authoritarianism; the regime has long relied on this repressive tactic to crack down on protest mobilization efforts and stifle the free flow of information within and outside the country. WhatsApp’s new feature sets an important precedent for how Big Tech and policymakers can support the Iranian people in their fight for freedom.

Over the last four months of demonstrations in Iran, protesters have relied on the internet to help keep the movement alive; social media platforms are used to mobilize crowds on the streets, document violence by regime security forces, update families on the status of loved ones, and even make international appeals to save citizens in danger of execution. As with previous rounds of civil unrest, Iran has responded by ordering nationwide internet disruptions, shutting down mobile networks, and cutting access to social media platforms. Twitter and Facebook have been banned since 2009, but current protests have since led to restrictions on both WhatsApp and Instagram.

WhatsApp’s proxy server would enable protesters to send personal messages with end-to-end encryptions that make them inaccessible to external parties (even Meta itself!) keeping their connection securely out of the hands of the regime. And while WhatsApp’s update is a critical step for combatting regime censorship, it’s not enough. Big Tech players must advance their efforts to protect the Iranian people’s digital lifeline. Other messaging apps—like Signal, which unsuccessfully tried introducing proxies to Iranians in September—should integrate their proxy servers into its messenger; companies offering virtual private networks that help bypass internet crackdowns should waive their fees; major service providers, such as Google and Microsoft, should reinstate domain fronting practices, a technique that allows apps to disguise user traffic; and all social media platforms should ensure that their foreign-language content moderation teams are investing in services that accurately and fairly protect against disinformation. (Opponents of data obfuscation tools fear its abuse by malignant actors, and some tech companies have responded by implementing enhanced security measures.)

And while the Biden administration’s response to the protest movement has been mediocre at best, it’s important to give credit where it’s due. In September, the US Department of Treasury amended sanctions guidance that significantly cut off the Iranian people’s access to Western platforms and circumvention software. The effects of these sanctions were particularly harmful during internet shutdowns that limited people’s online connectivity options to state-controlled services. With these changes, however, tech companies have no excuse for not securing the free flow of information in Iran. 

What the regime fears most is its own people revealing the truth about the human rights violations taking place inside Iran. And with limited on-the-ground coverage, it is all the more vital that tech companies and policymakers work together to protect the Iranian people’s ability to make their voices heard. As the old adage goes, information is power—and we must use our own power to keep it in the right hands.

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