Iranian authorities have lifted bans on WhatsApp and Google Play, marking a rare step toward easing internet restrictions, state media reported Tuesday.
The decision, approved during a meeting led by President Masoud Pezeshkian, follows years of tight control over online platforms in the Islamic Republic.
Despite ongoing censorship, tech-savvy Iranians frequently bypass blocks on platforms like Facebook and Twitter using VPNs. Iran’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Sattar Hashemi, called the move “the first step in removing internet limitations.”
Social media has been pivotal in anti-government protests, making platforms a focus of censorship. The U.S. has previously urged Big Tech to counteract such restrictions, including in Iran. Whether this signals a broader shift remains to be seen.
