Internet Access Isn't Enough: VPNs in Repressive Regimes
When Iran shut down internet access following the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, US-based activists began smuggling Starlink satellite devices into the country to help Iranians stay connected. It's a remarkable act of solidarity, and it highlights just how far people will go to preserve access to open information. But restoring a connection is only part of the problem. What happens to the people using it once the signal comes back?
What's Happening in Iran
Since the protests that erupted after Amini's death in custody, the Iranian government has repeatedly used internet shutdowns as a tool to limit the flow of information, both in and out of the country. Activists based in the United States have responded by building networks to smuggle Starlink terminals across the border, giving Iranians a way to bypass state-controlled infrastructure entirely.
The effort hasn't been without serious consequences. Organizers have faced escalating device costs, government crackdowns, and the arrest of key network leaders. Despite those obstacles, the work continues, driven by the belief that access to the open internet is worth the risk.
It's a story about courage and ingenuity. It's also a useful reminder that connectivity and privacy are two separate problems, and solving one doesn't automatically solve the other.
Why Connectivity Alone Doesn't Equal Safety
Satellite internet tools like Starlink can restore access when governments cut the cables. But once a user is online, their activity can still be monitored, logged, and traced, especially in countries where surveillance infrastructure is deeply embedded in how the internet functions.
In repressive environments, the risks associated with unprotected browsing are significant. Visiting certain websites, communicating with journalists or activists abroad, or even searching for specific terms can draw attention from authorities. Restoring internet access is a critical first step, but it doesn't shield users from the surveillance layer that sits on top of that connection.
This is where tools like VPNs become relevant. A VPN encrypts a user's traffic and masks their IP address, making it much harder for third parties, including government agencies, to monitor what someone is doing online. It won't replace hardware solutions when a government cuts access entirely, but it can add a meaningful layer of privacy when connectivity is restored.
What This Means For You
If you're reading this from a country where internet freedom is largely taken for granted, the situation in Iran might feel distant. But the underlying principles apply more broadly than you might think.
Surveillance isn't limited to authoritarian regimes. ISPs in many countries log browsing activity. Public Wi-Fi networks leave traffic exposed. Advertisers and data brokers build detailed profiles from unencrypted connections. The habit of protecting your traffic with a VPN is useful whether you're a journalist in Tehran or a remote worker at a coffee shop in Toronto.
For Iranians specifically, the activists working to restore connectivity are addressing an urgent and immediate need. But privacy advocates have long argued that the follow-up question matters just as much: once you're online, how do you stay safe while you're there?
The answer usually involves using encrypted messaging apps, being cautious about which services you log into, and routing your traffic through a trustworthy VPN that doesn't keep logs of your activity.
Access and Privacy Work Together
The activists smuggling Starlink devices into Iran are doing something genuinely important. Hardware solutions that restore access when governments shut things down are a critical part of the digital rights toolkit. VPNs serve a different but complementary function, protecting what users do once they're back online.
Thinking about these tools as competing approaches misses the point. In environments where both access and surveillance are live concerns, people need both layers working together.
If you want to understand more about how encryption protects your traffic and why no-log VPN policies matter, hide.me VPN is built around those principles. It's not a replacement for the kind of grassroots hardware networks being built for Iranians, but for anyone looking to add a privacy layer to their connection, it's a straightforward place to start.
