Iran has lifted its ban on Meta’s WhatsApp messaging service and Google Play, marking a significant easing of its internet restrictions, according to reports from Iranian state media on Tuesday.
The Islamic Republic has long imposed tight controls on internet access, blocking many U.S.-based social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
Despite this, many Iranians have found ways to bypass the restrictions by using virtual private networks (VPNs).
A meeting chaired by President Masoud Pezeshkian resulted in a “positive majority vote” that approved the lifting of the ban on WhatsApp and Google Play, among other foreign platforms.
Sattar Hashemi, Iran’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology, referred to this decision as the “first step in removing internet limitations.”
The move comes in the wake of widespread anti-government protests, where social media platforms played a crucial role in organizing demonstrations.
The government had previously imposed stricter internet censorship in response to the protests.
The United States has urged tech companies to support efforts to counter online censorship in countries with heavy restrictions, such as Iran.
