Internet in Chains

The day of disconnection is a day of silencing voices and the right to be seen. In days when Iranians needed to connect with the world and tell their stories more than ever, the internet was not only restricted and filtered, but sometimes completely shut down.

The little dinosaur Chrome, once a symbol of brief interruptions, has become a symbol for millions of Iranians of a long and arduous period in which disconnection is no longer a technical glitch, but a deliberate and political decision.

For many, the experience is reminiscent of periods when internet access was severely restricted and cut off for long periods of up to 88 days, during which communication with the outside world was reduced to a minimum and the free flow of information was severely restricted.

The issue was not only access, but also controlling the flow of information and silencing voices that sought to be heard. Ultimately, disconnection was not a glitch, but a tool for managing public space and limiting freedom of expression; and even after partial reconnection, the chain of censorship and filtering continues.