As with earlier protests in Iran, I will be logging and writing about this, including its social media implications, in due course. The focus here is on internet-related issues, rather than comprehensive coverage of the situation. While I am no longer active on X, I have included, of necessity, some materials derived from X sources below. There were some embedding issues between X and WordPress, so I have included links only and brief descriptions. Return for updates (usual disclaimer applies).
"‘There’s no way for me to go back right now. It’s too dangerous for me,’ student says, having protested against the regime." #Iran
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 3 February 2026 at 17:04
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Detailed #Iran internet article from @theverge.com
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 1 February 2026 at 18:58
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Listening list:
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 31 January 2026 at 09:46
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#Iran Iran's internet is returning – but not for everyone www.bbc.co.uk/news/article…
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 28 January 2026 at 22:20
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#Iran "After a widely-shared image showing hundreds of bodies piled up in a morgue in Tehran turned out to have been AI-generated, supporters of the Iranian regime have been using the picture to cast doubt on a real photo taken in the same morgue." @france24.com
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 27 January 2026 at 16:49
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IranMonitors.org, Daily Briefing – links to the X post below (screenshot)
#Iran ""Every time I connect, it takes a year off my life," Mahsa, a 39-year-old in Tehran, wrote in a message during a window of connectivity."
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 26 January 2026 at 17:25
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UPDATE: Iran Internet shutdown Continuing to see a small, but steady restoration for Iran as the country rolls out its internet whitelisting system to police connectivity. #DigitalBlackoutIran #IranianRevolution2026 From our perspective, traffic is at ~25% of pre-shutdown levels (bits/sec).
— Doug Madory (@eldomador.bsky.social) 26 January 2026 at 14:25
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#Iran "In some cases, people are accused of merely following accounts of opponents of the Islamic republic on social media."
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 26 January 2026 at 16:04
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From Mike Johnson at WebProNews: "Iran's regime tests 'Barracks Internet,' a permanent two-tier system locking 85 million from the global web while elites hold whitelist access. Blackout costs soar to $37 million daily, fueling economic collapse amid protests."
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 26 January 2026 at 15:44
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Rory Tingle, Daily Mail, London TV station is operating as ‘propaganda arm of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard’, 26 Jan 2026 “London TV station is operating as a propaganda arm of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and must be shut down, a senior politician has warned.” (also reported in the Telegraph)
from @restofworld.org #Iran "The regime is testing a two-tier internet where access becomes a vetted privilege. Its economic cost could be staggering."
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 26 January 2026 at 15:41
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#Iran digital issues discussed by Ilan Berman @forbes.com
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 26 January 2026 at 15:34
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#Iran #Starlink “kill switch”
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 23 January 2026 at 10:13
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#Iran
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 21 January 2026 at 21:05
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#Iran
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 21 January 2026 at 09:48
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Iranian diaspora struggle to reach loved ones as the nationwide internet shutdown isolates families, intensifying fear, anxiety & uncertainty over their safety
— The New Arab (@thenewarab.bsky.social) 21 January 2026 at 12:31
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Fierce repression has been used against street protests in Iran. Possible solutions to the latest crisis remain many and uncertain, writes Bernard Hourcade:
— The New Arab (@thenewarab.bsky.social) 19 January 2026 at 14:45
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opinion/analysis #Iran
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 19 January 2026 at 14:57
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#Iran net
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 19 January 2026 at 12:34
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#Iran newly verified videos via BBC
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 19 January 2026 at 12:31
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'Digital isolation': Will Iran's internet shutdown become permanent? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article…
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 18 January 2026 at 10:38
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#Iran
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 17 January 2026 at 22:28
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#Iran
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 17 January 2026 at 22:21
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Useful overview on #Iran net
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 17 January 2026 at 22:13
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#Iran bitcoin increases
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 17 January 2026 at 22:07
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#Iran
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 17 January 2026 at 22:04
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#Iran
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 17 January 2026 at 21:55
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Netblocks update on #Iran's net shutdown
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 15 January 2026 at 16:25
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#Iran disinformation and AI:
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 15 January 2026 at 16:20
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— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 15 January 2026 at 16:08
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 15 January 2026 at 16:07
#Iran protests update
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 15 January 2026 at 16:05
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From X: Mario Nawfal, repost showing protestors being forcibly removed from hospital
'We are facing thousands of deaths' in Iran, MEP tells Euronews
— Euronews (@euronews.com) 14 January 2026 at 12:14
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#Iran update
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 14 January 2026 at 13:11
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Tehran morgue videos show the brutality of Iran's crackdown on protesters www.bbc.co.uk/news/article…
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 14 January 2026 at 18:58
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— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 15 January 2026 at 16:09
Bitchat #Iran #Uganda
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 14 January 2026 at 22:31
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"Iranian-linked group MuddyWater has deployed RustyWater, a Rust-based RAT, via spear-phishing attacks on Middle Eastern diplomatic, maritime, financial, and telecom sectors."
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 13 January 2026 at 16:42
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#Iran
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 13 January 2026 at 16:46
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"Donald Trump has told Iranian protesters "help is on the way" as he urged them to "take over your institutions". Meanwhile, the UK has summoned the Iranian ambassador over Tehran's crackdown, which has left 2,000 protesters feared dead." @skynewsrss.bsky.social
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 13 January 2026 at 17:07
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From Vahid Online on X 13 Jan 2026, details of dead bodies/numbers links to protests (awaiting verification)
From IranObserver on X, details of an apparent Starlink seizure:
Also see:
Blocking #Starlink #Iran: "The ongoing blackout has precedent, made possible through a carefully cultivated policy by the Iranian regime to centralise the internet in Iran, a measure implemented as a response to previous uprisings by the Iranian people."
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 13 January 2026 at 16:38
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From OSIntel on X:
⚠️ Update: #Iran has now been offline for 120 hours. Despite some phone calls now connecting, there is no secure way to communicate and the general public remain cut off from the outside world. What footage makes it through shows extensive use of force against civilians 📵
— NetBlocks (@netblocks.org) 13 January 2026 at 16:36
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Navid Mohebbi Thread 13 Jan 2026: https://twitter.com/navidmohebbi/status/2010857457225015701?s=20
opinion/analysis from Mojtaba Dehghani
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 12 January 2026 at 16:55
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#Iran protests
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 12 January 2026 at 16:52
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"Industry publication UK Defence Journal, which has tracked the accounts for months, said that multiple X accounts claiming to be supporters of Scottish independence have ceased activity."
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 12 January 2026 at 16:50
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"The flag emoji change was initiated several days ago by X's head of products, Nikita Bier, after a user contacted him and asked him to change it to a flag similar to that used by the regime of former shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi."
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 12 January 2026 at 16:44
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Meme (based on an image apparently taken in Canada):
A report from Mickey Carroll @skynewsrss.bsky.social discusses how Starlink connections have apparently been taken down as part of an internet blackout.
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 12 January 2026 at 16:29
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#Iran update
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 12 January 2026 at 09:44
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Key #Iran points in thread from @peterfrankopan.bsky.social
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 12 January 2026 at 09:50
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further update on #Iran situatioin
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 12 January 2026 at 12:38
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Starlink use discussed here #Iran
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 11 January 2026 at 08:37
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Tehran escalated its threats against demonstrators Saturday, with the Iran’s attorney general warning that anyone taking part in protests will be considered an “enemy of God,” a death-penalty charge. https://to.pbs.org/4qMOgRi
— PBS News (@pbsnews.org) 10 January 2026 at 21:45
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— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 8 January 2026 at 11:51
Opinion/analysis on #Iran (from Shahir Shahidsaless): "Contemporary Iran is saturated with information. Social media, encrypted messaging apps, satellite television, exile outlets, and ubiquitous citizen reporting generate a dense, decentralized public sphere."
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 8 January 2026 at 11:55
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@BabakTaghvaee1, discussing internet issues, 8 Jan 2026
The WarPolitics, internet restrictions, 8 Jan 2026
REF/RL, Unstable internet connections, 8 Jan 2026
Omid Memarian, discussing keeping internet connections in Iran, 8 Jan 2026
Saint Javelin, on Mashhad protests, 8 Jan 2026
Access Now, on internet access, 6 Jan 2026
🇮🇷 Mass protests are taking place across Iran, including people burning effigies Khamenei. The active phase of the protests has been ongoing for several days and is spreading to an increasing number of cities and provinces.
— Savchenko Volodymyr (@savchenkoua.bsky.social) 4 January 2026 at 20:07
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https://twitter.com/DigitalVagrant/status/2008798759023706590?s=20
An intelligence report says Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has prepared a contingency plan to flee to Moscow if nationwide unrest escalates and security forces begin to defect or disobey orders.
— Mark Chadbourn (@chadbourn.bsky.social) 4 January 2026 at 22:58
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Meanwhile, in #Iran …
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 3 January 2026 at 13:44
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I’ve seen several examples of AI images from #Iran protests. BBC Verify are covering it here:
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 2 January 2026 at 10:46
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— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 2 January 2026 at 10:29
#Iran protests continue:
— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 30 December 2025 at 18:33
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