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An Iranian communications expert has warned that internet filtering policies have inadvertently led millions of users to install VPN apps, which could serve as spying tools for foreign intelligence services.
Iranians need VPNs to connect to several major websites, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, and several other websites, including foreign news sources like the BBC Persian service and other foreign-based websites.
During the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, Iranian internet service providers were forced to completely disconnect the country's internet connections for more than 48 hours.
Hamid Ziaei Parvar, a communications professor, said in a social media post that Iran's filtering policies have effectively facilitated the widespread installation of tens of millions of VPN apps developed by Israeli or foreign intelligence agencies, Citna reported.
"The defenders and implementers of filtering, consciously or unconsciously, have played into Israel's court," Ziaei Parvar declared, arguing that the filtering approach has become a platform for installing espionage tools rather than protecting national security.
Over the past decade, Iran has widely blocked social media and communication platforms, including Instagram, Telegram, WhatsApp, Twitter and YouTube, forcing millions of users to rely on circumvention tools to maintain daily communications for work or education.
These tools, commonly known as VPNs or filter breakers, are mostly offered by unknown sources or developers with unclear identities. Most are free and require full access to device information, network communications, files, location data, and even access to the camera and microphone.
Cybersecurity experts have warned that these apps can pose greater threats than the filtered content itself, potentially serving as tools for enemy infiltration. Users seeking solutions to bypass filtering restrictions may unknowingly expose themselves to direct information, cyber threats, and even physical security threats.
The widespread use of unregulated VPN applications continues in the absence of a reliable alternative infrastructure, raising concerns about whether current filtering policies enhance security or facilitate foreign intelligence penetration.
The tightening of pressure on internet users has not stopped since US President Donald Trump implemented a ceasefire in both countries last week, with heavy prison sentences for people using purchased and smuggled Starlink systems.
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