# Iran's information war: the battle for control of the internet

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-world-with-richard-engel-and-yalda-hakim-7027228/iran-s-information-war-the-battle-for-control-of-the-internet
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-world-with-richard-engel-and-yalda-hakim-7027228/iran-s-information-war-the-battle-for-control-of-the-internet.md
Podcast: [The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-world-with-richard-engel-and-yalda-hakim-7027228)
Published: 2026-01-31T04:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://the-world.captivate.fm
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/99bec212-5c8e-478f-aefa-d019437d2391.mp3?aw_0_1st.showid=017f3337-d13b-4493-8846-ca84c374143c&aw_0_1st.episodeid=99bec212-5c8e-478f-aefa-d019437d2391
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Duration seconds: 1862

## Resource

How does the Iranian regime use technology to control its people? How has AI and misinformation been used in the current wave of protests? The Iranian regime just implemented the longest internet shutdown in its history. For over two weeks, very little information was getting in or out of the country as security forces cracked down hard on protestors. Shutting off the internet is something the regime has done many times before. But why and how does it do it? Mahsa Alimardani is associate director of technology threats and opportunities at WITNESS and specialises in how disinformation and AI are used in protests across the globe. An Iranian herself, Mahsa tells Yalda the full scale of the misinformation tactics used by the regime as well as her ambitions to democratise satellite internet access. You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here. Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at theworld@sky.uk

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