In recent weeks speculations on blocking the messaging app Telegram in Iran have become a hot topic in the local media. The ICT minister says, while the government plans to promote locally developed apps, Iranians are not to be barred from using foreign services.
“Localization [and promoting locally developed services] does not translate into getting disconnected from the world and fencing Iran off. Our aim is to claim a share of the global market,” the minister was quoted as saying by ICANA.
Mohammad Javad Azari-Jahromi met members of Majlis national security and economic commissions on Monday to address the parliamentarians’ concerns over local and foreign messaging applications.
With over 40 million active users, Telegram is the most popular messenger service in Iran. The app is also used as a social media network and news outlet in the country.
Noting that trusted sources of news have national impact in every country, Azari-Jahromi said Iranians should not rely on a foreign messenger as their trusted source for news.
The minister is of the opinion that fading the border between social media platforms (and in this case messaging applications) and news outlets is ominous since “there is a legal void over how media outlets should offer services through messaging applications [and social media networks].”
Privacy, Confidence at Issue
Several bugs have recently been detected in locally developed messengers, which were reported by cyber activists on social media platforms.
For instance an Iranian programmer Milad Nouri detected a security flaw in the Soroush messaging app last week.
Nouri took to Twitter to provide evidence that the locally developed messenger is insecure by revealing data on the ICT minister’s official channel on the platform, which is commonly expected to be inaccessible to the public.
Later, Azari-Jahromi said, “Uncovering bugs and releasing patches is part of every platform’s development process. If I were in place of Soroush developers, I would thank the person who has detected the bug. I would also set up a contest asking people to find other flaws in our app.”
During his meeting with the lawmakers, Azari-Jahromi said, “Breaching users’ privacy is a legal offence and Iran is resolved to protect users’ data. Moreover, punishments have been designated for such trespasses.”
According to him, many are trying to tarnish the image of locally developed messaging applications and are adamantly trying to prove them insecure. “Such moves forestall digital growth in the country.”
He added, “People’s private chats [conducted through locally developed messengers] are not monitored.”
Earlier in the day, Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei called on authorities to preserve “people’s security and privacy” in their bid to localize social networking and messaging apps, warning that any infringement would be tantamount to a “religiously forbidden act”.
The minister also noted that “Iran’s information technology laws need to be modified, so as to protect developers’ rights. Developers should not be held accountable for users’ conduct on their platforms.”
So far, locally developed messengers have failed to attract much usership with many questioning their integrity and security since none of them have ever been subject to a fine-toothed independent audit.
Incentive Package
Azari-Jahromi outlined plans for promoting locally developed messengers. According to him, low-interest loans are to be offered to local firms for production of such apps.
“So far the ministry has earmarked 50 billion rials ($1.2 million) for financing firms which develop messaging applications. The funds will be disbursed as loans with low interest rate,” Azari-Jahromi said.
So far a local company has been able to meet the requirements and receive a loan. Other applications are being processed.
The minister also noted that with the state’s support, the businesses have been able to increase the quality of their services and have gained more traction. He said the ministries of culture and education, the Central Bank of Iran and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting are collaborating with the ICT Ministry over the matter. He did not elaborate.
As of January, Iranian Internet subscribers are charged 70% less for using domestically developed messaging applications compared to the service offered by foreign firms.
As per a notification by the Communication Regulatory Authority, local mobile operators and Internet service providers are required to offer 70% discount to subscribers using indigenous messaging applications.
The discount is offered on communications conducted via four major locally developed messengers namely, Gap, iGap, Bisphone and Soroush.
