Will Telegram, WhatsApp and Google Play Be Unblocked? Details of the 32-Article Resolution Released

The 32-article resolution on 'facilitating access to foreign platforms', which outlines a phased path to lifting the filtering of Telegram, WhatsApp and YouTube, has been declassified. Is reopening imminent? The key document was approved in Dey 1403 by the Supreme Council of Cyberspace with the president's signature, and its details were explained by the council's secretary, Seyyed Mohammadamin Aghamiri. ...

0 Posted by: Amir Jalali on 22 Mehr 1405 at 09:53

The 32-clause resolution "facilitating access to foreign platforms", which specifies the step-by-step process of removing the Telegram, WhatsApp and YouTube filters, has been declassified. Is a reopening imminent?

This important document was approved in December 1403 with the signature of the President in the Supreme Council of Cyberspace and its details were explained by Seyyed Mohammad Amin Aghamiri, the secretary of this council. This resolution determines four-stage strategies to facilitate access to these platforms and manage the country's virtual space, but its timing is conditional and without a definite date.

Steps to remove the filter of external platforms; From Google Play to Telegram

The 32-point resolution foresees a four-step action plan to remove the filter of foreign platforms and regulate Iran's virtual space.

The first stage: The reopening of Google Play and WhatsApp is foreseen at this stage, the responsibility for its implementation rests with the Supreme Council of Cyberspace and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. Supporting domestic content platforms by allocating infrastructure and an advertising support package of 500 billion tomans is also among the measures of this stage.

The second step: In this step, the presentation of YouTube through the controllable portals is proposed, which is different from the direct filtering. Also, support for the production of popular content, the development of internal platforms and the exclusive provision of some services such as electronic prescribing in selected internal messengers are followed.

The third stage: Fixing the Telegram filter is in this stage and depends on the negotiation and acceptance of the terms approved by the relevant working group. If there is no agreement, Telegram will be provided through selected internal messengers. Improving the quality of access to internal platforms and increasing speed is also considered at this stage.

Fourth stage: The reopening of other foreign platforms is subject to negotiation and acceptance of the conditions of the steering committee. At this stage, the strengthening of technical knowledge to deal with anti-refining tools, intensifying dealing with unauthorized tools and drafting laws related to intellectual property and criminalizing the supply of non-governance tools are also foreseen.

Supervisory body and evaluation indicators of filter resolution

The supervision of the implementation of this important resolution is the responsibility of the "Steering Working Group" which is headed by the National Center for Virtual Space and the Secretary of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. The Ministry of Information, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Attorney General's Office are also members of this working group. The main duties of this working group include approving operational plans, determining evaluation indicators, following up negotiations with foreign platforms, and the authority to return to previous steps in case of violations.

The National Cyber Space Center is also required to review the monitoring and evaluation indicators on a continuous and monthly basis. These indicators include the ratio of internal to external traffic, the amount of filter breaker use, the number of active platform users, user satisfaction with internal and external platforms, and the speed and quality of the Internet.

Does the removal of the platform filter have a fixed schedule?

With the publication of the details of the 32-point resolution, the possible way to remove the filter of foreign platforms has become more clear. However, in the published text, no definite and independent date for the implementation of each stage is announced. The implementation of this program is dependent on the approval of the steering committee, the realization of the anticipated actions and the acceptance of the conditions set by the platforms in question. Therefore, the publication of this resolution does not mean the immediate and unconditional removal of the filter of all these platforms, and it will be a conditional and step-by-step process.