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Iran lifts bans on WhatsApp and Google Play after 2 years

The ban on WhatsApp and Google Play was introduced in 2022 amid nationwide protests over the death of a woman detained by the morality police for allegedly violating strict dress codes.

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Iran Social media banWhatsApp was previously the third most popular messaging platform in Iran, following Instagram and Telegram. (File Photo)

Iran’s government announced on Tuesday that it has lifted a more than two-year ban on WhatsApp and Google Play, according to the official IRNA news agency.

The decision was made by the Supreme Council of Cyber Space during a meeting chaired by reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, who has pledged to ease restrictions on social media platforms.

Telecommunications Minister Sattar Heshemi described the move as a “first step” towards lifting further restrictions. In a post on X, he stated, “The path will continue,” hinting at the potential unblocking of additional services in the future.

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While some users in Tehran and other cities reported accessing the platforms on computers, mobile access remained unavailable for many.

WhatsApp was previously the third most popular messaging platform in Iran, following Instagram and Telegram.

The ban on WhatsApp and Google Play was introduced in 2022 amid nationwide protests over the death of a woman detained by the morality police for allegedly violating strict dress codes. The protests subsided in 2023 after a harsh government crackdown that resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of imprisonments.

Although Iran has blocked several social media platforms over the years, many citizens bypass the restrictions using proxies and VPNs.

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