Ayatollah Sayyid Mojtaba Nourmofidi in an Interview with Jamaran News Agency: Internet Filtering Has Harmed People’s Livelihoods
In an Interview with Jamaran:
Ayatollah Sayyid Mojtaba Nourmofidi: Internet Filtering Has Harmed People’s Livelihoods / Measures in the Area of Filtering and Blocking Are Incomplete / We Must Build Trust Regarding the Information We Provide on Domestic Messaging Apps and Social Networks
The Qom Seminary professor and researcher stated that internet filtering has harmed people’s livelihoods, saying: “There is a discussion about allowing gatherings in designated places and providing people with the opportunity to demonstrate while ensuring the safety of the demonstrators. That issue stands in its own right, but the internet is a space in which people can express their views, concerns, criticisms, and protests, and it can help governments and governing authorities reform affairs, remedy deficiencies, and eliminate shortcomings. If we provide this space, it will reduce many material and nonmaterial costs.”
In an interview with a Jamaran reporter concerning the negative consequences of filtering social networks, Ayatollah Sayyid Mojtaba Nourmofidi stated: “The internet is a space for exchanging information and a reality that now encompasses the world. Filtering is also a phenomenon whose basic principle has been accepted almost universally as a means of imposing regulations and restrictions on this exchange of information. To develop a proper understanding of filtering, we must recognize that, within this vast sphere of information exchange, almost everyone accepts that certain restrictions and specific regulations are necessary to standardize the exchange of information.”
The Qom Seminary professor and researcher emphasized: “We must properly explain that this space ultimately cannot exist without a set of regulations. Naturally, however, the purpose of filtering differs from one country to another, and its technical scope also varies. The principal criteria for filtering generally revolve around several considerations: protecting people’s religious and moral norms and beliefs, safeguarding national security, or ensuring the security of users.”
Pointing out that excess and negligence in this area have unfortunately created problems, he stated: “Many people may think that this is being implemented only in Iran. Its basic principle exists in many countries, and some countries even have very extensive filtering. For example, blocking children’s access to certain information and data that are incompatible with their upbringing is something in which almost everyone believes. We must be careful not to expand and broaden its scope under various pretexts.”
Ayatollah Nourmofidi recalled: “The current reality is that restricting the exchange of information on the internet creates serious problems in economic affairs as well as in political and social matters. Let me provide you with a statistic concerning economic issues. Between 2006 and 2011, approximately 21 percent of the growth in the gross domestic product of the world’s developed countries occurred within cyberspace and the internet, and perhaps around 75 percent of the world’s large companies use these platforms for advertising.”
He emphasized: “If this space remains open, it offers many benefits and advantages. It can serve as a space for conveying people’s views and expressing protests with the aim of reform. Suppose, for instance, that there is a discussion about allowing gatherings in designated places and providing people with the opportunity to demonstrate while ensuring the safety of the demonstrators. That issue stands in its own right, but the internet is a space in which people can express their views, concerns, criticisms, and protests, and it can help governments and governing authorities reform affairs, remedy deficiencies, and eliminate shortcomings. If we provide this space, it will reduce many material and nonmaterial costs.”
The Qom Seminary professor and researcher continued: “If this space serves the economy, it can play a highly effective role for both small and large businesses. Alongside these benefits, the scientific advantages and intellectual growth that the exchange of information and data provides to people are also undeniable. Although imposing these restrictions may be necessary under certain circumstances, their scope and duration are extremely important. Completely closing off this access creates extensive economic and social harm as well as psychological and emotional problems. Moreover, it paves the way for violations of the law.”
He stated: “When you block a space, that blocking constitutes a law. This means that many people must not enter that space to obtain or exchange information. For example, if means of circumventing these filters through VPNs become available, this means that the law is being violated or disregarded by a broad segment of the population, which is itself a very serious harm. I believe that measures in the area of filtering and blocking are incomplete. This means that if we intend to restrict certain spaces, we must also provide alternatives that compensate for this deficiency. Second, the issue of blocking must genuinely be subjected to expert analysis, and we must reach a collective consensus regarding the scope and cases in which it should occur.”
Ayatollah Nourmofidi stated: “I believe that the basic principle of restricting access is something implemented in every country. However, if we make it a matter of personal preference, subject it to certain narrow-minded interpretations, and assume that such measures will prevent these occurrences, this will, in fact, not be the case. We must build trust regarding the information we provide on domestic messaging apps and social networks. At the same time, I have a proposal. I believe that all groups, viewpoints, and individuals who believe in the Islamic Republic and the Revolution should sit together and engage in a serious expert discussion. They should reach an agreement on the cases that must be blocked, and this is achievable.”
He stated: “I believe this can be accomplished with regard to anything that concerns national security in the true sense of the term; anything related to terrorism; sabotage and terrorist networks that carry out operations inside the country; and anything that calls into question and undermines people’s religious and moral norms. We must reach a national consensus on the scope of blocking. The basic principle of filtering cannot be denied and is a reality throughout the world. What is important, however, is that all viewpoints in Iran that believe in preserving national identity and unity and believe in the Revolution should discuss this issue and subject it to expert analysis. They should establish a defined scope and range for it, and this should become law.”
In conclusion, the seminary professor and researcher said: “Ultimately, the situation should not be such that different preferences can expand or reduce this scope, as that naturally creates problems. I would even say that, according to the maximalist approach to filtering and blocking, the conditions for such an approach no longer exist, and this matter must be addressed as soon as possible. This is because a great many small businesses have genuinely been harmed by this issue, and the livelihoods of many people who depended on this space have been adversely affected.”
He concluded: “In any event, God willing, a decision must be made, while a long-term plan should also be developed in this regard. A genuine platform must be provided for the healthy expression of criticism and protest, accompanied by proposals for reform. Gradually, we will reach a point at which the overwhelming majority of people will turn away from anything that could harm our national security and our people’s religious beliefs or pose security risks.