Chinese Technology Underpins Iran’s Internet Control, New Report Reveals
A recent report by the British human rights organization Article 19 highlights the crucial role Chinese technology has played in shaping Iran’s extensive internet censorship and surveillance system. This analysis exposes how Tehran’s internet control architecture relies heavily on imported hardware and software originally developed for surveillance in China, including tools used against Uyghur populations in western China and China’s BeiDou satellite navigation system, an alternative to the US-based GPS.
Background: Iran’s Tightened Internet Control
During the height of the anti-government protests in January 2026, Iranian authorities executed a near-total blackout of the internet, effectively disconnecting approximately 93 million citizens from global digital communication networks. This blackout served to obscure serious human rights violations, including mass killings, the full extent of which remains unknown. Though the total internet shutdown has been lifted, access remains heavily restricted under a fragmented censorship regime that allows only sporadic connectivity to the outside world.
Decades-Long Collaboration and Shared Cyber Sovereignty Vision
The report traces Iran’s capabilities back to a decades-long project, developed in collaboration with Chinese authorities who share a concept of "cyber sovereignty." This concept advocates for absolute state control over the internet within national borders. Michael Caster, the author of the Article 19 report, pointed to 2010 as a pivotal year when both China and Iran took significant steps towards consolidating national internet infrastructures to enforce digital authoritarianism.
Chinese Technology Enabling Surveillance and Censorship in Iran
Chinese corporations have supplied Tehran with critical surveillance and filtering technologies. Telecommunications giants such as Huawei and ZTE have delivered internet-filtering apparatus and deep packet inspection (DPI) equipment that scrutinizes and controls online traffic. DPI technology, widely used in China to block access to politically sensitive topics like the Tiananmen Square massacre and Tibetan autonomy, provides Tehran with the capacity to monitor, filter, and limit internet content extensively.
In addition to these telecom technologies, camera manufacturers like Hikvision and Tiandy have sold facial recognition systems to Iranian security forces, including branches of the Revolutionary Guards and the armed forces. Tiandy promotes itself as a leading supplier in the surveillance field, emphasizing the significance of its technologies in Iran’s tightening grip on its population.
Moreover, smaller, less well-known Chinese technology providers have furnished Tehran with "alarming" surveillance equipment, though their specific functionalities remain opaque to outside researchers. Experts warn that Iran is not merely acquiring off-the-shelf technology but is adaptively integrating and weaponizing these tools for sophisticated censorship and monitoring.
Global Context: Chinese Firms Expanding Influence
Iran is not an isolated case. According to reports from organizations like the Outline Foundation and Project Ainita, similar Chinese firms have deployed expansive censorship and control systems in countries including Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Ethiopia. One such company, Geedge Networks, produces middlebox devices that intercept and analyze individual internet activities, though the precise operational details of these technologies remain unclear.
Industry Responses and Compliance Issues
In response to the report, some companies have distanced themselves publicly from the Iranian market. Hikvision stated it exited Iran eight years ago and emphasized its commitment to complying with legal trade regulations worldwide. ZTE declared it ended operations in Iran in 2016. Other companies named in the report have been approached for their comments but have not provided detailed responses.
Implications for Human Rights and Internet Freedom
The infusion of Chinese technology into Iran’s digital infrastructure plays a critical role in enabling the government to suppress dissent and restrict access to information, ultimately facilitating severe crackdowns on protestors and impeding international awareness of human rights abuses. The Article 19 report raises concerns about the opaque nature of these technologies and the difficulty in tracking how surveillance capabilities evolve, highlighting an urgent need for global attention and regulatory oversight.
For more details and updates on this developing story, visit The Guardian’s ongoing coverage of Iran, China, internet censorship, and human rights.
