Updated · Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty · May 13
Iran Internet Blackout Wipes Out Women's Jobs for 2 Months as 1 Million Posts Vanish
Updated
Updated · Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty · May 13
Iran Internet Blackout Wipes Out Women's Jobs for 2 Months as 1 Million Posts Vanish
6 articles · Updated · Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty · May 13
More than two months after Iran imposed its latest Internet shutdown on February 28, women running online businesses and services say earnings have collapsed, with layoffs spreading across publishing, advertising, teaching and home-based sales.
The blackout began during US and Israeli attacks and was not fully lifted after an April 8 cease-fire, leaving affordable access largely limited to people with costly VPNs or state-approved connections.
Government officials said in April that the war cost 1 million jobs and left 2 million people directly or indirectly unemployed; the vice president for women said about one-third of recent unemployment-insurance claims came from women.
One Tehran editor said two employers cut 80% of staff—mostly women—while a village food seller said she spent 5 million tomans, about $40, on VPNs as sales nearly fell to zero.
Researchers say the Internet had created a rare parallel labor market for women, especially in smaller towns, and warn that job losses could deepen poverty among the 22.5% of Iranian households headed by women.
With its economy losing millions daily, is Iran's internet shutdown a security tactic or a path to self-destruction?
As Iran’s digital wall gets higher, can new satellite tech offer a genuine lifeline to its isolated citizens?
Iran’s 70-Day Internet Blackout: Economic Freefall, Social Fragmentation, and Gender Inequality
Overview
Iran’s government has repeatedly imposed widespread internet blackouts, especially during times of conflict and unrest, such as the 21-day shutdown in January 2026 when thousands of protesters were reportedly killed. These blackouts restrict access to information, hide alleged government abuses, and prevent independent reporting. The current shutdown, affecting over 90 million people during war with the US and Israel, has left most Iranians offline while some officials remain connected. This digital isolation has deepened economic hardship, fueled inflation, and triggered protests, highlighting how internet control is used to suppress dissent and manage public perception.