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2026 Iran Schoresch Davoodi1 Comment

The Mullah Regime’s Assault on Digital Freedom: Lessons from Iran and the Taming of Global Net Politics

admin January 9, 2026 January 9, 2026

By Schoresch Davoodi, Board Member of Pirate Party International, Delegate for European Policy and Member of the Foreign Policy Working Group in Pirate Party of Germany Published in Pirate Times, January 9, 2026 The protests raging across Iran since late December 2025 lay bare the Mullah-Regime’s vulnerability—and its ruthless reliance on digital repression to survive. Born from economic desperation—galloping inflation, blackouts plunging cities into darkness, and water shortages threatening survival—these demonstrations have swiftly transcended grievances, erupting into a nationwide demand for the Islamic Republic’s downfall. In Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, and dozens more cities, voices rise in unison: “Death to the Dictator,” aimed squarely at Supreme Leader Khamenei. This is not …

Babak Tubis digital sovereignty HateAidLeave a comment

The Taming of Net Politics: HateAid as a Cautionary Tale for Digital Freedom

Guest Author January 1, 2026 January 1, 2026

By Babak Tubis The U.S. sanctions on HateAid’s leaders in December 2025 have ignited a fierce transatlantic debate. One side frames it as an attack on European digital sovereignty and the fight against online hate, while the other celebrates it as a blow against “state‑sponsored censorship.” Both narratives, however, miss the deeper structural problem which has been emerging for years: HateAid has become a textbook example of the “gezähmte Netzpolitik” — the taming of internet politics — where independent, pluralistic activism is gradually replaced by conformist, institutionally dependent structures. This is evidenced by its state funding and privileged role as a Trusted Flagger under the Digital Services Act (DSA). Its …