Iran plans to unplug the Internet, launch its own “clean” alternative

Iran topped a recent list of repressive regimes that most aggressively restrict Internet freedom. The list, published by Reporters Without Borders, is a part of the 2012 edition of the organization’s Enemies of the Internet report. One of the details addressed in that report is the Iranian government’s bizarre plan to create its own “clean” Internet. The proposed system, an insular nation-wide intranet that is reportedly isolated from the regular Internet, would be heavily regulated by the government.

Reporters Without Borders drew attention to Iran’s national Internet plan when it was first proposed in 2011. The organization says that the system “consists of an Intranet designed ultimately to replace the international Internet and to discriminate between ordinary citizens and the ‘elite’ (banks, ministries and big companies), which will continue to have access to the international Internet.”

In addition to developing its own Intranet system, Reporters Without Borders says that the Iranian government is also creating its own custom electronic mail service and a national search engine called Ya Haq (Oh Just One) that is intended to replace Google. In order to obtain an account on the state-approved mail service, users will have to register their identity with the government.