Iran's Own Internet

The World Wide Web is nearing its end in Iran. The country announced it had completed the first of three stages that will eventually set up a “national Internet”—an intranet, really—controlled by the government, with all of its servers in the country. Iranians will only have access to content, services, and applications that are based in Iran. Iran already blocks access to some overseas-based social media, news outlets, and online stores. A national Internet would tighten the government’s grip on online content even more.

The BBC adds: "The government says the goal is to create an isolated domestic intranet that can be used to promote Islamic content and raise digital awareness among the public. It intends to replace the current system, in which officials seek to limit which parts of the existing internet people have access to via filters—an effort [Iranian Communications and Information Technology minister Mahmoud] Vaezi described as being 'inefficient.'"