The clerical dictatorship in Iran has withdrawn a widely criticized bill aimed at tightening control over online content, following public outcry and growing fears of mass unrest. The so-called “Combating False Content in Cyberspace Bill,” dubbed “Protection 2” by critics, was rushed to parliament last week with double urgency and initially approved by 205 lawmakers. The bill, drafted by the judiciary and backed by the regime’s president Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration, threatened severe penalties for anyone accused of spreading “false news” online.
On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani announced on social media that the cabinet had formally requested the bill’s withdrawal “to preserve national unity.” State media, including IRNA, sought to portray the decision as proof that the president “listens to the voice of the people and experts,” while promising a new round of consultations before any future legislation on digital regulations.
However, domestic criticism has been fierce. Outlets such as Khabar Online questioned how a “dangerous and poorly drafted bill” could have passed through multiple government channels before being sent to parliament, raising doubts about the administration’s competence and transparency. Even state-affiliated commentators warned that the bill would have given authorities unchecked power to define “truth,” silence independent journalists, and criminalize dissent, echoing past crackdowns on free speech.
Watch and judge how #censorship is lectured by #Iranian senior officials pic.twitter.com/wnDNLvPmxB
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) January 13, 2024
Asriran reported that internal divisions plagued the cabinet, with many ministers and legal experts opposing the bill but failing to stop it before its submission. Analysts suggest the government’s last-minute retreat was motivated less by “national unity” and more by fear of triggering fresh nationwide protests, already simmering over executions, economic hardship, and censorship.
The episode has exposed deep fractures within the regime’s approach to online freedoms. Critics note that while the bill has been withdrawn for now, Iran’s clerical rulers continue to pursue new methods to control the digital space, signaling that attempts to silence dissent on social media are far from over.