Fears grow that Iran’s Internet blackout may turn permanent to weaken dissent

Iran’s nationwide Internet blackout will last until late March, a new report said — as fears grow that Iranians’ access to the Web will be permanently stripped as a means for Tehran to control them.

Iran is now 10 days into a near-total Internet shutdown, which the Islamic Republic has defended as a means to undermine the alleged “terrorists” behind the anti-government protests that have gripped the country.

The blackout, which has left protesters unable to coordinate and unite, will allegedly carry on until at least the Iranian New Year on March 20, government rep Fatemeh Mohajerani said, according to IranWire.

Internet access in Iran was shut off Jan 8, with no sign of returning as Tehran looks to silent dissent. Kentik Despite the outage,