The Iranian government's efforts to restrict the Telegram messaging application have been met with significant resistance, as users continue to find ways around these limitations. According to Pavel Durov, co-founder of Telegram, despite the ban implemented years ago, around 50 million Iranians have successfully accessed the platform via virtual private networks (VPNs).
VPNs obscure users' locations by routing their internet traffic through global servers, allowing them to bypass national restrictions. Durov noted that instead of the anticipated adoption of government-sanctioned messaging apps, there has been a surge in VPN usage, creating a significant digital resistance among Iranians. He stated that this resistance is mirrored by an equal number of users in Russia, bringing the total to over 100 million users advocating for online freedom.
Decentralized technologies, including encrypted messaging and blockchain, are seen as vital tools for overcoming state-imposed censorship. Meanwhile, despite a nationwide internet blackout that began in January 2026 amidst escalating protests, Iranians can still connect through alternative methods, such as Starlink and the BitChat application, which utilizes Bluetooth for communication.