Fears of unseen violence against protesters as Iran's internet blackout enters a fifth day

Photo: AFP/SUPPLIED By Brianna Morris-Grant, ABC News The death toll from Iran's ongoing protests could surge, and a government crackdown could reach new levels of violence as the nation's internet shutdown stretches on for a fifth day. Human rights groups estimate more than 500 people have been killed and more than 10,600 arrested in the ongoing protests. Few videos have been published on social media, and verifying information has become difficult. Those watching from outside the nation's borders warn the number of deaths and the number of detainees could soar once the blackout is lifted. Arina Moradi is a member of the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights, an independent Kurdish group monitoring human rights violations in Iran. "We have seen in the past that whenever they shut down [the] internet, it's because they want to use, as much as possible, their violence and their method of controlling people using violence," she said. Widespread protests sparked an internet shutdown Protests began in late December. As the Iranian rial crashed to a record low against the US dollar, merchants in the capital, Tehran, shut their doors. From there, demonstrations against the regime have spread across multiple demographics and across multiple cities. Some who spoke to the ABC from inside Tehran said people had been pushed to "desperation". Photo: CNN Newsource Iran's security forces have quickly escalated their repression, in some cases moving from tear gas to live ammunition in an effort to halt protesters. The scale of the protests, Moradi told the ABC, had changed rapidly - with demonstrations in hundreds of cities and towns across at least 31 provinces so far. "It started in Tehran, and it was over economic hardship and the poor living situation," she told the ABC. "But the demands we can see now [are] much bigger and deeper than this. "It's very diverse, and people are calling for their basic rights to be protected, for freedom, and even for … an end to the Islamic Republic of Iran." Protests reached a high point on January 8, spreading across multiple major cities. According to the Oslo-based non-governmental organisation Iran Human Rights, at least 50 Kurdish cities took part in a general strike. By 10pm, local time, that day, the internet was shut down across Iran. NetBlocks, an independent group mapping internet freedom around the world, stated that at least 99 per cent of Iran's internet was under a blackout by the following morning. Iran's 'kill switch' blackout raises concerns about unseen violence Iran uses a kind of "internet kill switch", meaning it has full control over the network's infrastructure. National connectivity remained at just 1 per cent of ordinary levels, according to NetBlocks, on day four of the shutdown. Overnight, internet traffic in Iran dropped to "effectively zero", according to online monitor Cloudflare Radar. A previous crackdown in 2022 led some to turn to the Starlink satellite system, owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX, for access. Independent financial news outlet TechStock2 estimated 10,000 to 20,000 Starlink terminals were operating inside Iran as of late 2024. The small, rectangular devices allowed Iranians to access uncensored internet during past shutdowns. This time around, however, the government appeared to target Starlink also - a move some experts, including internet researcher Amir Rashidi, had never seen before. Military-grade jamming signals were targeting Starlink satellites, Mr Rashidi told online outlet TechRadar. "I have been monitoring and researching access to the internet for the past 20 years, and I have never seen such a thing in my life," he said. Majid Sadeghour is an Iranian-American human rights activist and political director of Washington-based non-profit, the Organisation of Iranian American Communities. He told the ABC the regime would continue the blackout "until it either folds or massacres people to end the uprising". "The fundamental reason is that this time, the protests are much more organised," he said. "[They] include nearly all age groups and social segments, and are led by core groups of resistance units. "In internet and communication darkness, the regime is engaged in a virtual nationwide massacre. "This time, the regime is facing an existential internal crisis." Donald Trump warns of 'strong options' as protests continue With the blackout, the scale of the protests has become difficult to discern. The United States has warned Iranian leaders against using force. Late on Sunday, local time, US President Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One that Washington was considering "strong options", including military intervention. "The military is looking at it, and we're looking at some very strong options," he said. Iranian leaders have said any attack on Iran would make both Israel and all US bases and ships a "legitimate target". Emma Briant, an expert in information warfare and propaganda...

Fears of unseen violence against protesters as Iran's internet blackout enters a fifth day

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