Cliff Notes – Iran and Israel tighten media censorship
- Iran has implemented an internet shutdown and throttled speeds to control information flow, limiting access to news to state-controlled sources only.
- Israel has tightened military censorship rules, restricting journalists from reporting on specific locations and military activity during the conflict.
- Increased governmental pressure on media outlets in Israel has led to heightened censorship, with significant articles barred from publication and international correspondents faced with expulsion.
Iran and Israel tighten media censorship
As the war between Israel and Iran enters its second week, it’s becoming harder to access reliable information from either side.
Iran Cuts Off the Internet
Iran has shut down much of its internet, claiming it was needed to stop Israeli cyberattacks. The government said Israeli drones were using SIM card connections, so cutting internet access would help block them.
This means Iranians can’t use most websites, apps or messaging services. All the news they get now comes from state-run media. Foreign journalists have also been banned from reporting inside Iran.
One Iranian man living in Germany said his mother in Tehran had no idea which parts of the city were under attack, as she had no access to outside news.
Israel Tightens Media Rules
While information still flows more freely in Israel, the government has tightened media controls. New rules now ban showing live footage of missile strike locations, and journalists must blur soldiers’ faces and get approval before publishing anything related to the military.
Israeli police can now stop or even arrest reporters if they think they are filming sensitive areas. The media are not allowed to mention that a military censor has changed or blocked their stories.
Critics say press freedom in Israel has been shrinking since the Hamas attacks in October 2023. A watchdog recently reported that over 1,600 articles were censored in Israel last year — the highest since 2011.
Freedom of Press in Decline
Reporters Without Borders now ranks Israel 112th out of 180 countries for press freedom, down 11 places since last year.
The Al Jazeera TV network was banned in Israel in May 2024. Authorities accused one of its staff of being linked to Hamas, and shut its studio. Other media outlets, like the public broadcaster Kan and the newspaper Haaretz, have come under pressure for being critical of the government.
Meanwhile, pro-government outlets have received more financial support, making it harder for independent voices to be heard.
Despite this, most Israelis can still access the internet and use apps freely, including missile alert systems. Israel also publishes information online about planned strikes in Iran. But because of Iran’s internet blackout, many Iranians don’t see these warnings.
Censorship as a Tool of Control
Experts say internet shutdowns in Iran are not just about preventing cyberattacks. They’re also used to stop public protests and silence dissent. Social media, once a key source of independent news, is now heavily policed.
There have been reports of arrests, harassment, and intimidation of journalists and activists, even those based abroad. Some in Iran fear that information blackouts could help the government hide the true scale of destruction and casualties.
An Iranian journalist based in Berlin said the government is afraid of unrest. She believes the internet will eventually be restored due to the cost of keeping it offline, but for now, only trusted journalists have limited access to what Iran calls its “white internet”, a state-controlled online space.
Sources
Breaking new records, Israel sees unprecedented spike in media censorship – 972mag.com
Israel is tightening media censorship amid war with Iran – Le Monde.fr
Iran-Israel war: What tools are used to censor reporting? – dw.com