Iran lifts ban on WhatsApp and Google Play

Iranian authorities have lifted the ban on Meta’s WhatsApp and Google Play as part of an effort to ease internet restrictions, according to state media reports on Tuesday.

The move is seen as the first step toward scaling back the country’s strict controls over internet access.

The Iranian government has long imposed heavy censorship on foreign-based social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, which are regularly bypassed by tech-savvy users using virtual private networks (VPNs).

However, WhatsApp and Google Play, both widely used platforms, were previously blocked.

According to Iran’s official IRNA news agency, a meeting led by President Masoud Pezeshkian resulted in a majority vote to lift restrictions on these platforms.

Iran’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Sattar Hashemi, described the move as a positive development, referring to it as the "first step" in removing internet limitations.

Social media platforms have played a significant role in anti-government protests in Iran, with many protestors using them to organize and spread their message.

In September, the United States urged tech companies to assist in circumventing online censorship in countries like Iran that heavily restrict internet access.