The Iranian government unexpectedly announced that it has lifted access restrictions on WhatsApp and Google Play. With this move, the country’s strict internet censorship policies have taken a step back. Why did Iran take such a step?

Iran lifts WhatsApp and Google Play ban

According to the country’s state news agency IRNA, this decision was taken in a meeting led by Chairman Masoud Pezeshkian. “There was a positive majority vote to lift restrictions on access to some well-known foreign platforms such as WhatsApp and Google Play,” the agency said.

Iran’s Minister of Information and Communication Technologies, Settar Hashemi, said, “Today, the first step towards lifting internet restrictions was taken.”

For those who don’t know, the Islamic Republic of Iran has long restricted access to major US-based social media platforms such as Facebook, X and YouTube. However, it is also known that Iranian citizens are using VPNs to bypass these restrictions.

The lifting of the bans on WhatsApp and Google Play follows international pressure on Iran’s internet policies. In September, the US said it would help big tech companies circumvent censorship in countries with internet restrictions, including Iran.

But it remains to be seen whether this step will lead to a broader relaxation of Iran’s internet censorship. Social media platforms have played an important role in organizing anti-government protests in Iran in recent years.