TL;DR
NetBlocks and Cloudflare reported a near-total internet outage across Iran starting January 8, with traffic falling to roughly 1% of normal levels and Cloudflare calling the interruption government-directed. The disruption coincides with widespread anti-government demonstrations and reports of a violent response; observers say the cut hampers communications and the sharing of footage from the protests.
What happened
On January 8, network-monitoring groups registered a dramatic collapse of internet connectivity inside Iran. NetBlocks reported that traffic plunged to almost zero and later updated its analysis to say the outage had continued for at least twelve hours, with connectivity “flatlining” at about 1% of ordinary levels. Cloudflare’s Radar service logged a nearly 90% drop in Iranian internet traffic within half an hour and described the incident as directed by authorities. Both firms indicate the country was largely severed from the global internet. The blackout occurred amid large-scale anti-government protests, and multiple news reports allege the outages were imposed to restrict citizens’ ability to communicate and to limit the flow of footage documenting an allegedly violent state response. The piece also notes previous nationwide shutdowns in Iran in 2019 and an outage in 2025 tied to claims about preventing cyber-attacks.
Why it matters
- Severing connectivity reduces civilians’ ability to coordinate and to report on events in real time.
- Blackouts can limit independent verification of claims about violence and rights abuses.
- Network shutdowns are a recurring tool used during large-scale protests, with precedent in Iran.
- A nationwide cut also isolates the country from global services, affecting businesses and information flow.
Key facts
- NetBlocks reported an almost complete collapse of Iran’s internet on January 8.
- NetBlocks later said connectivity had persisted at about 1% of normal levels for at least 12 hours.
- Cloudflare Radar measured roughly a 90% drop in traffic within 30 minutes and described the outage as government-directed.
- Both monitoring firms indicate Iran was effectively cut off from the global internet during the outage.
- The disruption happened amid widespread anti-government protests and concurrent reports of a violent response by authorities.
- Observers and news reports say the outages make it harder for citizens to communicate and to share footage of events.
- Iran previously imposed nationwide internet restrictions during protests in 2019 and enacted an outage in 2025 linked to preventing cyber-attacks.
- NetBlocks also detected major network disruptions in Belgorod, western Russia, attributing them to missile strikes by Ukraine.
- Declines in connectivity were observed in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, which NetBlocks tied to Russian drone strikes on energy infrastructure; Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy said workers carried out emergency restoration overnight.
What to watch next
- Whether internet access in Iran is fully restored and on what timeline — not confirmed in the source
- Any official statement from Iranian authorities explaining the outage — not confirmed in the source
- Independent verification of reported violent government responses and any casualty figures — not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- Internet blackout: A widespread or complete loss of internet connectivity within a country or region, which can be caused by technical failures or deliberate action by authorities or service operators.
- NetBlocks: An organization that monitors internet connectivity and measures shutdowns, throttling, and censorship worldwide.
- Cloudflare Radar: A service that tracks global internet traffic patterns and outages using data from Cloudflare’s network.
- Digital censorship: Deliberate restrictions on online content or access to internet services imposed by governments, platforms, or intermediaries.
Reader FAQ
Did Iranian authorities shut down the internet?
Cloudflare characterized the outage as government-directed and multiple news reports assert the outages were imposed by authorities.
How long did the blackout last?
NetBlocks reported the outage persisted for at least 12 hours and traffic was about 1% of normal during that period.
Were there similar internet disruptions elsewhere?
NetBlocks reported network disruptions in Belgorod, Russia, attributed to missile strikes, and declines in parts of Ukraine tied to strikes on energy targets.
Are casualty figures or details of the government response confirmed?
Not confirmed in the source.
NETWORKS Iran’s internet goes dark amid mass protests, reports of violent government response Outages hit Russia and Ukraine, too Simon Sharwood Fri 9 Jan 2026 // 05:28 UTC The authors of a hypothetical manual…
Sources
- Iran’s internet goes dark amid mass protests, reports of violent government response
- Iran regime cuts nationwide internet access as protests …
- Internet service in Iran cut off or restricted as deadly …
- Iran plunged into internet blackout as protests over …
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