Limitations on Online Presidential Election Campaign in Iran

EghtesadOnline: Candidates for the upcoming presidential election can only use local social networks for their online advertisements.

News ID: ۷۷۴۵۵۷

12 March 2017

The head of Iran’s High Council of Cyberspace, Abolhassan Firouzabadi, made the announcement ahead of the May 19 presidential vote, IRNA reported on Friday. He said the candidates should use only Telegram messenger channels which have been registered with the election committee. All Telegram channels with more than 5,000 subscribers are required to be registered with the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. Firouzabadi said "countering fake news" is one of the aims behind the rare decision. According to the official, the ministry will release a list of the channels that have acquired operating permits. Telegram is one of the messaging applications widely used as a social media platform in Iran, according to Financial Tribune.