Iranian authorities have taken a major step in reducing the country's stringent internet regulations by deciding to remove the ban on Google Play and META. On December 24, 2024, Iranian state media announced this decision.
The Islamic Republic has long been known for its strict controls over the internet, particularly its bans on U.S.-based social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Despite these restrictions, many Iranians bypass these blocks using virtual private networks (VPNs).
According to the official IRNA news agency, a "positive majority vote" led to the decision to allow access to some popular foreign platforms. Sattar Hashemi, Iran's Minister of Information and Communications Technology, confirmed that this was a significant first step towards removing some of the country's internet limitations.
This decision comes amid ongoing anti-government protests, where social media platforms were widely used to organize and spread messages. In September, the U.S. government called on major tech companies to assist in helping people in countries like Iran evade online censorship.
This move is being viewed as a sign of easing some of the heavy internet restrictions, although Iran's strict controls on online access are still in place for many platforms.
