Iran’s Technological Repression: AI, Drones, and the Hijab
Iran is employing advanced technologies, including drones and facial recognition, to enforce its strict hijab laws, according to a recent United Nations report. The report, released on Friday, highlights severe human rights violations by Iranian authorities, particularly in the wake of widespread protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022.
The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran compiled the report after two years of investigation. This included interviewing approximately 285 victims and witnesses and analyzing over 38,000 pieces of evidence.
Mahsa Amini was detained by the so-called “morality police” for allegedly violating the country’s hijab regulations. Her death ignited nationwide demonstrations, evolving into a broader movement against the government’s oppressive policies, especially those restricting women’s rights and freedoms.
The protests’ central cry, “Woman, Life, Freedom,” symbolized the demand for gender equality and personal liberty.
Human rights groups estimate at least 500 people were killed during the protests, while the government reported a lower figure, closer to 200. Nearly 20,000 individuals were arrested.
“In suppressing the 2022 nationwide protests, Iranian authorities committed grave human rights violations, some of which we found to constitute crimes against humanity,” stated Sara Hossain, Chair of the Fact-Finding Mission.
Hossain also noted, “We received numerous distressing testimonies of severe physical and psychological abuse, along with widespread violations of fair trial and due process rights, including cases involving children as young as seven.”
Since April 2024, the Iranian government has escalated its crackdown on women who resist the mandatory hijab law through the “Noor Plan.” The report asserts that women’s rights defenders and activists have faced criminal penalties, including fines, lengthy prison sentences, and in some cases, the death penalty, for peacefully advocating for human rights.
Speaking at a Human Rights Council session in Geneva, Hossain emphasized that ethnic and religious minorities in Iran were “specifically targeted during the protests.” The most severe abuses occurred in minority-dominated regions that were epicenters of the demonstrations.
Testimonies collected both inside and outside Iran detailed instances of men, women, and children being detained “at gunpoint” and subjected to psychological torture, such as having nooses placed around their necks.
The Fact-Finding Mission highlighted that these actions contradict promises made by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to relax hijab law enforcement before the election. Instead, the government has increased its reliance on technology, surveillance, and state-backed vigilantism to maintain control. The Noor Plan exemplifies the regime’s shift from physical enforcement, using the morality police, to digital surveillance to suppress dissent.
Iran’s use of AI, facial recognition, and digital policing closely mirrors China’s mass surveillance state, specifically its use of advanced technology to suppress minorities like the Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Tehran is likely importing Chinese surveillance tools and AI capabilities to strengthen domestic repression. However, while China frames its actions under counterterrorism, Iran explicitly uses these technologies to police religious behavior and enforce gender discrimination.
Shaheen Sardar Ali of the Independent Mission explained, “Online surveillance has become a key tool for state repression. For example, Instagram accounts have been shut down, and SIM cards, particularly those belonging to human rights defenders, including women activists, have been confiscated.”
Ali also pointed out the use of the “Nazer” app, which allows vetted citizens to report individuals not wearing the mandatory hijab. “This technology is highly invasive and significantly extends state surveillance,” she said.
The report also indicates that 10 men have been executed in connection with the 2022 protests, while at least 11 men and three women remain at risk of execution. The Mission expressed strong concerns about the lack of fair trials, including the use of confessions obtained through torture.
The findings of the Fact-Finding Mission will be presented to member states at the Human Rights Council next Tuesday. The Mission was established in November 2022 to investigate the alleged human rights violations in Iran linked to the protests that began in September of that year, paying particular attention to women and children. The mission was also tasked with gathering, analyzing, and preserving evidence of these violations to support potential legal proceedings.
In December, the Iranian parliament approved the “Hijab and chastity bill.” This bill mandates the wearing of a hijab for all women in public and online forums for girls as young as 12.
A survey after the 2022 “Amini protests” revealed that 93% of women opposed the hijab’s imposition. Furthermore, approximately 40%-45% of women are no longer adhering to the mandatory hijab law. This widespread defiance challenges the regime, as the hijab is perceived as a tool of control. Authoritarian regimes often enforce dress codes to assert dominance over both the physical and ideological autonomy of their citizens. The Iranian government’s intolerance of non-compliance with the hijab underscores its reliance on such measures to maintain authority.
In response to the protests, the government implemented measures to suppress dissent, including internet blackouts, social media restrictions, and the use of force against demonstrators. By the spring of 2023, the protests had subsided, but the regime maintained control.
A recent survey indicated a significant shift in societal attitudes, particularly among the youth, with nearly 40% expressing no belief in God and rejecting an Islamist state. This secularization reflects a broader rejection of the principles that underpinned the Islamic Revolution over 45 years ago. The decline in religious beliefs and the desire among young Iranians for modernization reflect a broader trend in the Muslim world.
Economic factors, including high inflation and widespread shortages, further contribute to dissent among Iranians. The regime’s inability to address issues, such as economic instability, high inflation rates exceeding 40%, and widespread shortages of essential resources, has led to disillusionment, particularly among younger generations who no longer see the Islamic Republic as a viable model of governance.
