Iranian Authorities Lift Ban on WhatsApp and Google Play

DUBAI (Reuters) – Iranian authorities have lifted a ban on Meta's instant messaging platform WhatsApp and Google Play as a first step to scale back internet restrictions, according to Iranian state media on Tuesday.

The Islamic Republic has some of the strictest controls on Internet access in the world. However, its blocks on U.S.-based social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are routinely bypassed by tech-savvy Iranians using virtual private networks (VPNs).

Iran's official IRNA news agency reported a positive majority vote was reached to lift limitations on access to some foreign platforms. This decision was made during a meeting chaired by President Masoud Pezeshkian.

"Today the first step in removing internet limitations… has been taken," stated Iran's Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Sattar Hashemi, as quoted by IRNA.

Social media platforms were widely used during anti-government protests in Iran.

In September, the United States urged Big Tech companies to assist in evading online censorship in countries like Iran that impose heavy restrictions on internet access.