This week marked the 37th day of Iran’s nationwide internet shutdown, which has become the longest recorded blackout in any country, as reported by NetBlocks, a global internet monitoring organization based in London. This announcement coincides with escalating military tensions, as the United States claimed to have rescued a second airman from enemy territory, while Iranian officials asserted that they had downed multiple U.S. aircraft, including two C-130s and two Black Hawk helicopters.
According to NetBlocks, the internet outage in Iran has lasted over 864 hours, surpassing all previous instances of internet disruptions globally.
This current blackout is reminiscent of a similar action taken by the Iranian government in January when access was restricted for several weeks amid widespread protests. Experts interviewed by CNN have expressed concerns that this lack of connectivity fosters a “fog of war,” complicating the situation for both residents and the international community.
The ongoing internet shutdown severely limits the ability of citizens to communicate with family members, document local happenings, or obtain real-time information regarding the conflict.
In the absence of a functioning internet, information flow in and out of the country has been drastically reduced, creating a communications vacuum for millions as the crisis unfolds.
While nations like North Korea experience permanent isolation, Iran’s situation is distinct. It transitioned from a fully connected environment to a closed national network, setting it apart from other nations facing prolonged internet disruptions.
Previous conflicts in regions such as Myanmar, Sudan, and Tigray have resulted in significant drops in connectivity. However, NetBlocks has confirmed that no other event, including the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, has led to a complete countrywide internet shutdown of this magnitude.
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