Iranian public fears government plan to restrict cyberspace – Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Despite widespread opposition in Iran, lawmakers are working to approve a plan that would severely tighten the government’s control over the Internet. The plan, titled “Protection of users’ rights in cyberspace and organizing social media,” has been discussed for almost a year in the parliament, supported by hardline lawmakers but widely criticized in Iranian society. On July 28, lawmakers entrusted the next decision on the bill to the parliament’s special cultural commission. Parliament tasked a special committee to review it on September 6. If that commission approves it, the parliament can set a time for its temporary implementation, and there will no need to approve it again in a public session.  The nearer we get to that point, the more serious criticism and protests inside Iran it triggers. The number of signatories to a petition against the plan has already exceeded one million. Critics, most notably owners of small businesses, say the plan harms free access to the Internet and social networking media, which they heavily rely on. Under the bill, control over the Internet gate would be transferred from the ICT Ministry to a newly formed inter-organizational entity run by the military and security apparatuses. This new working group would consist of…
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