In Iran, a nation of 90 million people, the internet has been inaccessible for 48 days as authorities continue to impose restrictions that began in January. The disruptions were initially prompted by widespread protests and have persisted as violence has intensified. Many Iranians are now relying on what is termed "digital smuggling" via standard satellite TV dishes to access information from the outside world.
The Toosheh system, which translates to "backpack" in Farsi, was established in 2015 by Iranian dissidents associated with a project named Net Freedom Pioneers based in Los Angeles. Although the use of satellite dishes is officially prohibited, they can be found in approximately 50 to 70 percent of homes across Iran. Users can capture broadcasts by connecting a USB drive to their satellite receivers, allowing them to record a repeating hourly transmission that resembles a typical MPEG video file but actually contains concealed information. A specialized software can then retrieve the hidden data.
This method enables Iranians to obtain news summaries, recorded broadcasts, VPN software, music, and educational materials that are typically censored. Each broadcast carries between 1 to 5 gigabytes of content, but it's important to note that Toosheh operates as a one-way communication system, meaning users cannot send requests or feedback.
The signals from this system are challenging to trace or block, as they appear similar to standard television broadcasts. The only effective method for the authorities to disrupt this communication would be to jam a specific satellite, an action they have refrained from taking due to concerns about potential international sanctions.
The cost of renting airtime on a television satellite begins at around $100,000 annually. In 2016, the creators of the Toosheh project indicated that it was financed by a combination of public and private donations, asserting that no external entity influences the content distributed through the system.
Informational material. 18+.
