Iran restricts social media as Mahsa Amini protests grow

Mahsa Amini death case, Iran has curbed access to social media networks Instagram and WhatsApp amid protests over the death of a woman in police custody, according to residents and internet watchdog NetBlocks.

Significant internet outages also reported across the country, with one of the biggest mobile phone operators disrupted, leaving millions of Iranians offline.

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Last week’s death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who arrested by morality police in Tehran for “unsuitable attire”. Has unleashed a wave of anger over issues including freedom in the Islamic Republic and an economy reeling from sanctions.

At least six protesters have now killed, according to Iranian media and officials. As well as a police officer and two member of a pro-government militia. However, activist groups say the death toll is higher.

NetBlocks also reported a “nation-scale loss of connectivity” on Iran’s main mobile telephone provider and another company’s network.

WhatsApp’s servers disrupted on multiple internet providers. Hours after Instagram’s services blocked, London-based NetBlocks said.

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The group’s data shows a near-total disruption to internet service in parts of Kurdistan province in western Iran since Monday, while the capital city of Tehran and other parts of the country have also faced disruptions since Friday, when protests first broke out.

Two residents in Tehran and southern Iran said they could only send text and not pictures on WhatsApp and that Instagram appeared to be completely blocked.