Iranian Government To Ban Instagram, Citing National Security Concerns

The Iranian government is set to block Instagram — which is the only major social media network that’s still available across the nation.

Iran’s National Cyberspace Council has approved the initial steps to bar the app, Bloomberg reports, noting that the photo and video-sharing platform will soon join the likes of Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Telegram. Javad Javidnia, deputy for cyberspace affairs at the public prosecutor’s office, confirmed the move to a local newspaper, reportedly citing national security concerns as the reason for the restriction. (The Telegraph notes that social platforms are often used by Iranian citizens to share anti-government sentiments).

Despite any current or forthcoming bans, high-ranking Iranian officials — including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, president Hassan Rouhani, and foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif — are all active on social media. Rouhani, for instance, counts upwards of 2 million followers on Instagram and 800,000 Twitter fans. Many Iranian citizens also continue to access the platforms via proxy servers, Bloomberg notes.

The ban is somewhat telling given that social media companies in the U.S., including YouTube, have previously shuttered Iranian accounts for attempting to interfere with U.S. politics via coordinated influence campaigns.