A senior Iranian MP has called on the government to consider lifting internet restrictions, citing economic concerns and public pressure, semi-official ISNA reported on September 12.

Iran has steadily tightened internet restrictions over the years, escalating censorship efforts and imposing more extensive controls on online content. Authorities have blocked numerous social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and Telegram, while also restricting access to messaging apps and news websites.

Mohammad Movahhed, Deputy Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's Article 90 Commission, suggested in an Instagram post that the government should move towards removing internet filters "with proper oversight and management."

This proposal comes amid ongoing debate in Iran about internet censorship, which intensified following restrictions imposed during widespread protests in 2022. The government has long filtered many foreign websites and social media platforms, citing national security concerns.

"I believe that to boost internet businesses, ease public concerns, and prevent the heavy costs imposed on citizens for obtaining VPNs, we should move towards lifting filters with wisdom and appropriate supervision," Movahhed wrote.

The lawmaker acknowledged that even in Western and developed countries that advocate for human rights and privacy, the internet is managed and access is restricted when deemed necessary for national security reasons.

Movahhed argued that Iran is currently in a "normal situation" and urged President Ebrahim Raisi, the Minister of Communications, and members of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace to "take steps towards lifting filtering, while considering family privacy and societal values."

The suggestion from a member of parliament could signal growing recognition within Iran's political establishment of the economic and social costs and damage to the economy from the knee jerk reactions by security services over the years.

Iran's new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has signaled potential changes in the country’s social policies, particularly regarding internet restrictions and social freedoms. His administration appears more open to reviewing current internet filtering practices, which have long been a point of contention among the public. Pezeshkian has tasked his government with addressing public dissatisfaction over censorship, particularly the limitations on popular platforms such as Instagram and WhatsApp, Hamshahri daily previously reported. 

Previous data noted that a large proportion of trade and marketing was conducted on social media in Iran due to restrictions on traditional advertising, with apps like Instagram and Telegram being the main drivers of sales in many cases.

The value of trade through social media in Iran has grown in recent years, particularly via platforms like Instagram, which has become a central hub for online commerce. In 2021, the financial exchanges on Instagram alone were estimated to be between IRR180,000 and IRR320,000bn (approximately $430mn to $760mn), with over 415,000 active stores, Techrasa previously reported.

Social media-based businesses previously processed between 310,000 and 470,000 orders daily, contributing to direct employment for about one million people. However, since the effective ban trade has significantly reduced in 2022-2023.