Iranian police send mass text warnings over online activity to citizens
Iran's police intelligence service has been dispatching threatening text messages to thousands of people, warning them of possible criminal investigations for online behavior, even if they do not use social media.
Iranian police intelligence agents have begun a widespread texting campaign that threatens legal action against anyone involved in online activities deemed illegal, including people who do not have social-media profiles. The alerts quote multiple sections of the Islamic Penal Code and warn that participation in the distribution of "criminal content" is being examined. Several recipients report receiving as many as twenty messages per day, and the warnings have reached users without any social-media presence, raising questions about the scope of the surveillance.
In addition to the texts, some individuals have experienced unexplained SIM-card blocks and limited mobile-service access, with cases being referred to the Revolutionary Guard. Citizens criticize the effort as an attempt to silence dissent and restrict free expression, noting that similar measures have been used in past crackdowns on online activity.
Why it matters
The campaign shows how Iranian authorities are extending digital surveillance and intimidation to curb dissent, affecting even non-users of social media.
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