In a big transfer in the direction of bettering digital accessibility, the Supreme Council of Cyberspace, chaired by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, accredited the unblocking of WhatsApp and Google Play.
This is step one within the authorities’s promise to ease web restrictions, and the choice is welcomed as a significant coverage shift.
Communications Minister Setare Hashemi expressed optimism on social media on Tuesday, stressing that the measures replicate solidarity and dedication to bettering web entry.
Similarly, Elias Hazrati, head of the Government Information Council, hailed the choice as a success of an necessary promise by the president.
Nima Ghazi, president of the Tehran Electronic Commerce Association, famous that the lifting of those restrictions alerts a brand new perspective on governance, shifting away from long-standing censorship insurance policies.
Ali Sharifi Zarsi, a professor at Sharif University of Technology, condemned the choice and highlighted the financial burden of utilizing VPNs, which stimulated a profitable marketplace for sellers on the expense of most of the people.
But critics warn of potential challenges. Former Communications Minister Issa Zarepour referred to as for accountability, stressing that these accountable for such selections should guarantee efficient regulation and scale back “dangers related to elevated digital entry” .
While the choice is seen as an indication of hope, many say it highlights the complexity of balancing open web entry and regulatory oversight in Iran.