The censorship system in Iran, or the Filternet as it is known, temporarily added Instagram to its block list.
The website was unavailable for users in Iran on both computers and mobile devices for approximately 12 hours, with researchers saying that the block was intentionally put in place rather than a glitch on the system.
This isn’t the first time that sporadic online inaccessibility has became news in Iran, as a so-called ‘technical glitch’ allowed Iranian citizens access to Facebook and Twitter, which have been blocked in the country.
Iran’s President, Hassan Rouhani, has made many promises of future internet freedom in the country, but this new temporary block has casted doubt among Iranian citizens. The government denied blocking Instagram and the Telecommunications Infrastructure Company, Iran’s state-run telecom company, insisted the block was unintentional.
Only time will tell if the Iranian government stick to their promises about internet freedom, with citizens hoping that this temporary block is not the first step to a permanent ban.