Tracking Iran Protests: Unveiling the Truth Behind the Internet Blackout

BBC Verify Live maps the spread of protests in Iran despite a crippling internet shutdown

Apr. 10, 2026 at 7:23am

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A cinematic, Hopper-esque painting of a dimly lit Middle Eastern street, with a lone figure standing in the shadows, the scene bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of isolation and unrest.As protests continue to sweep across Iran, the country's government has imposed a crippling internet blackout, obscuring the full scale of the unrest from the outside world.Minneapolis Today

As protests erupt across Iran, BBC Verify Live is working to map the spread of dissent despite a nationwide internet blackout imposed by Iranian authorities. The team is using geolocation techniques to verify social media videos and plot protest sites on a map, but acknowledges their data is incomplete due to the communication restrictions. The blackout has severed contact between Iranians and their loved ones abroad, raising concerns about transparency and potential human rights abuses during the unrest.

Why it matters

Iran's internet shutdowns during periods of civil unrest have become a recurring pattern, sparking debates about the government's motivations and the impact on human rights. This latest blackout is preventing the free flow of information, making it difficult for the world to fully understand the scale and nature of the protests taking place.

The details

BBC Verify Live is using a multi-step process to map the protests in Iran despite the internet blackout. They are scouring social media for videos, verifying the locations through geolocation, and then plotting the confirmed protest sites on a map using the programming language R. However, the team acknowledges their data is incomplete, as there may be demonstrations happening in areas where they haven't yet received verified footage. Meanwhile, NetBlocks reported that Iran's connectivity plummeted to just 1% of normal levels for 12 hours, severing communication lines and leaving Iranians abroad desperately trying to reach loved ones back home. This isn't the first time Iranian authorities have imposed internet restrictions during unrest, with similar blackouts occurring during the brief war with Israel last summer.

  • NetBlocks reported Iran's connectivity plummeting to 1% of normal levels for 12 hours.

The players

Christine Jeavans

A senior journalist with BBC Verify, who explains the process of mapping the protests in Iran despite the internet blackout.

Ghoncheh Habibiazad

A senior reporter with BBC Persian, who highlights the chilling effect of the nationwide internet blackout on communication in Iran.

Joshua Cheetham

From BBC Verify, who is meticulously analyzing protest footage from across Iran.

NetBlocks

An internet monitoring organization that reported Iran's connectivity plummeting to 1% of normal levels for 12 hours during the protests.

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What they’re saying

“We can't be there physically, but we're scouring social media and receiving videos directly from within Iran. The key lies in geolocation – pinpointing the exact location where each video was filmed.”

— Christine Jeavans, Senior Journalist, BBC Verify

“NetBlocks, an internet monitoring organization, reported Iran's connectivity plummeting to a mere 1% of normal levels for 12 hours. This digital darkness has severed communication lines, leaving Iranians abroad desperately trying to reach loved ones back home.”

— Ghoncheh Habibiazad, Senior Reporter, BBC Persian

What’s next

BBC Verify Live will continue to investigate the protests in Iran, analyze new footage, and update their mapping efforts as the situation evolves. They will also continue to track other critical global events, such as the Russian missile strike on Kyiv and the shooting incident involving a Border Patrol agent in Portland, Oregon.

The takeaway

The internet blackout in Iran is raising serious concerns about transparency and the potential for human rights abuses during the ongoing protests. This case highlights the challenges of reporting on unrest in a country where the free flow of information is heavily restricted, and underscores the importance of finding innovative ways to track and verify events on the ground.