Iran's 70+ Day Internet Blackout Is Now the Longest Recorded National Shutdown
Iran's nationwide internet blackout has exceeded 70 days, with internet monitoring organisation NetBlocks classifying it as "the longest recorded national internet shutdown in a connected society." Bloomberg reports that Iranian businesses are issuing warnings of impending layoffs and permanent closures. The shutdown affects all civilian internet access and has progressively expanded beyond its initial scope, with no official timeline for restoration announced by Iranian authorities.
Why It Matters
A 70+ day national internet shutdown at the scale of Iran's economy has no modern precedent. The economic damage is compounding daily and signals a willingness by state actors to deploy complete connectivity denial as a long-term governance tool — setting a precedent that other governments may reference.