From stealth blackout to whitelisting: Inside the Iranian shutdown
Summary
Kentik analyst Doug Madory documents Iran's progression from a stealth internet blackout to a whitelisting regime, using NetFlow data to show IPv6 route withdrawals and continued IPv4 reachability. The piece situates the event in a historical context (NIN, 2012-2025), discusses partial restorations and a diurnal traffic pattern, and explains how Iran is moving toward a state-controlled, whitelisted internet while observers examine responses from satellite providers and international bodies. It also notes that other governments are watching and learning, suggesting broader implications for global internet freedom and surveillance.