Today, the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) issued a Joint Statement on Internet Shutdowns in Iran.
Endorsed by all 34 member states of the FOC, the joint statement strongly condemns the measures undertaken by Iran to restrict access to the Internet following the nationwide protests over the tragic killing of Mahsa Amini.
The FOC calls upon Iranian authorities to refrain from imposing partial or complete Internet shutdowns and blocking or filtering of services and to respect Iran’s international human rights obligations, including under articles 19, 21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The Coalition has previously expressed deep concern over the growing trend of intentional state-sponsored disruptions of access to or dissemination of information online in its Joint Statement on State Sponsored Network Disruptions, published in 2017.
To improve coordination among like-minded countries, civil society and the private sector, to anticipate, address and respond to Internet shutdowns, the FOC established the Task Force on Internet Shutdowns (TFIS) in 2021. The Task Force is chaired by FOC Advisory Network members’ Access Now and the Global Network Initiative (GNI), alongside the US State Department.
Diplomatic coordination and multi-stakeholder engagement is at the core of the FOC’s efforts to address issues threatening Internet freedom, including Internet shutdowns. This week, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation hosted FOC member states, the Coalition’s Advisory Network, and external stakeholders to coordinate activities and discuss strategies to advance human rights, both online and offline, worldwide.
To read the full statement, view the document below or download the statement by clicking here.
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