ژورنال سایت خبری سیاسی ژورنال
Vahid Majid, head of Iran’s cyber police (FATA), referred to the war between Israel and the Islamic Republic and said: “These days, even ordinary phone conversations with relatives inside or outside the country may be monitored by the enemy.”
Is this supposed to be a message to the people of Iran? To the people who long for the downfall of the regime and cheer the death of every one of its henchmen? To those who chant “Death to Khamenei”? The reality of Iranians’ presence on social media says everything about the state of the relationship between people and government. Nearly 40 million Iranians are active on social networks. The regime has repeatedly cried out in frustration over its inability to control these platforms.
There is a strong, nationwide connection among Iranian users that has rendered the Islamic Republic’s vast intelligence and security apparatus effectively useless in the face of this mass of anti-regime citizens online. The real lesson in the FATA chief’s warning is this: we must be even more present and more purposeful in digital media. We must make clear that the people stand united against the Islamic regime and are fighting for its overthrow.
Alongside anti-regime messaging, we must prioritise citizen journalism. During the twelve days of Israel’s offensive against the regime and the communication blackouts that followed, the people excelled—sharing photos, videos and reports through every possible channel and feeding independent and satellite news outlets with essential information. This, too, was a defeat for the Islamic Republic.
Yet the FATA chief warns us to “watch our phone calls”. In an age of massive, decentralised digital communication? However absurd the intent of such a warning may be, it reveals a simple truth: the regime lost the media war long ago. With full force and maximum coordination, we must now wage that information war even more systematically.
Media is a powerful enemy of this regime. We must wield this weapon to its fullest potential. Let us think seriously about acquiring Starlink and building more stable communication networks. Let us act collectively to keep these lines open. This war against the regime will continue—fierce and unrelenting.
English journal about the current situation in Iran
Editor-in-Chief: Keyvan Javid
Contact: 00447388575020
E-mail: keyvan.javid1@gmail.com
Editor: Patty Debonitas
