Chief Justice of Iran Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i has ordered an investigation into the distribution of ‘Pro Internet’ SIM cards in the Middle Eastern nation, which allow users to circumvent the state imposed internet blackout.
The Iran International reports that these SIM cards were supposed to given to a small number of ‘eligible people’ who had access approved by the government.
Instead, the SIM cards have found their way to the black market, being sold to people without the government’s say-so.
Reports indicate the SIM cards have been given out mostly to pro-government activists, while tens of millions of Iranians remain digitally cut off from the rest of the world.
Iran’s Internet blackout began when since US-Israeli strikes commenced on February 28, and has been ongoing since. It is now the world’s longest state-imposed internet blackout to date, with Monday marking the 59th day without internet, as per independent, London-based internet watchdog NetBlocks.
