Tehran: Iranian lawmakers have drafted a new draft bill designed to intensify online censorship and limit Internet access in the country. The Cyberspace Regulation Plan is a revised version of an earlier draft bill that was abandoned after triggering fierce criticism in the country of some 90 million people. The new proposed legislation excludes some of the most controversial provisions in the earlier bill, called the Cyberspace Protection Bill, but critics say the goal remains the same. The new bill was presented to lawmakers on August 26, although it is unclear when it will be voted on.

According to Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, the new bill would tighten state control over the Internet and give command of the country's Internet gateways to the Supreme Cyberspace Council. This council is tasked with monitoring and filtering the Internet in Iran and its members are handpicked by the country's supreme leader. Slovenian-based Iranian cybersecurity expert Puyesh Azizeddin stated that the council acts as the rule-maker, legislator, regulator, and judge, consolidating power in one body. The proposed legislation aims to shift authority away from the government, particularly the Information and Communication Technology Ministry, reducing accountability for decision-makers.

The bill would require Internet service providers to authenticate users, undermining online anonymity. Online platforms could face fines or have their licenses revoked for violations. Some provisions from the scrapped Cyberspace Protection Bill have been omitted, including criminalizing the use of virtual private networks (VPNs), which mask Internet users' locations and enable them to access blocked websites. However, other restrictive measures remain, such as requirements for foreign online platforms to establish a physical presence in Iran and penalties for domestic platforms that violate terms.

Azizeddin remarked that this is a recurring plan that reappears under different names. The bill has been drafted amid Iran's ongoing conflict with the United States, which began in February. This conflict has resulted in the deaths of several top Iranian officials and has bolstered hard-liners' grip on power. The war has led to a securitized environment in Iran, marked by the deployment of security forces in major cities and the arrest of government critics. Authorities also imposed a nearly three-month Internet blackout, one of the longest in modern history.

Observers suggest that hard-liners are leveraging war-time conditions to enforce stricter Internet controls. However, the new draft bill has faced significant objections from some government factions, including the Information and Communication Technology Ministry. Reformist President Masud Pezeshkian's administration has shown some sympathy towards easing Internet restrictions, but the ultimate decision lies with the supreme leader.