Iran turns online access into a state-controlled privilege

Iran’s ongoing internet disruptions have shifted from broad blackouts to a gated, ‘Internet Pro’ system that grants access based on profession and official approval, effectively turning connectivity into a priced privilege rather than a universal right. The policy reshapes everyday life—work, banking, education, and healthcare—while sparking a surge in VPNs as people pay higher prices to reach the outside world. Officials frame the restrictions as wartime measures on foreign platforms, but critics warn the internet is being commodified and controlled as a tool of governance.