The Iranian government has lifted a ban on the messaging platform Meta (WhatsApp) and Google Play. The move is seen as a first step towards easing internet restrictions, Iranian state media reported on Tuesday.
The Islamic Republic is one of the world’s most restrictive countries on internet access. But blocks on US-based social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are often bypassed by tech-savvy Iranians using virtual private networks (VPNs).
According to the official IRNA news agency, a meeting chaired by President Massoud Pezeshkian “has taken a positive decision to lift restrictions on popular foreign platforms such as WhatsApp and Google Play.”
“The first step towards lifting internet restrictions has been taken today,” said Iran’s Information and Communication Technology Minister Sattar Hashemi.
Social media platforms have been widely used in anti-government protests in Iran.
In September, the US government called on major technology companies to help people in Iran and other countries that severely restrict the internet to bypass online censorship.
