Prosecutor Says 'Major Development' In Cyber Space To Affect Iranians

Iran -- Attorney General, Mohammad Jafar Montazeri speaking with reporters, on Wednesday, March 13, 2019.

Iran's Prosecutor-General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri says cyber space in Iran will undergo a "major development" in July.

Speaking to the Iranian Student News Agency (ISNA) on Wednesday June 19, he did not offer any details on the upcoming development. However, Iranians on social media have been speculating about the launch of some kind of "national internet" with state-imposed restrictions that would ban access to some sites.

Montazeri told ISNA that lack of proper supervision has adversely affected the "cyber space," which is Iranian officials' jargon for social media.

Meanwhile, he called on state authorities to fulfil their responsibility toward social media so that the Judiciary would not have to intervene.

Iran imposes strict "filtering" regulations that make many websites and social media platforms inaccessible for the public. Nevertheless, various government bodies do not agree on a certain procedure and blame each other for what they see as social problems caused by online activities.

The government is particularly concerned about social media's potentials to organize anti-government protests and mobilize protesters as it was the case in nationwide protest demonstrations in 2017 and 2018.