In a significant move, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has taken action to disable the social media accounts belonging to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader. This decision is part of Meta’s ongoing efforts to enforce its policy against Dangerous Organizations & Individuals.
Ayatollah Khamenei’s accounts, which collectively had over 5 million followers on Instagram alone, were permanently removed due to repeated violations of Meta’s policy. This policy explicitly prohibits the presence of individuals or organizations that promote violence or support designated terrorist groups recognized by the US government.
Iran has faced accusations of supporting groups like Hamas and the Houthis, both designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) by the US government. Meta’s action against Khamenei’s accounts follows mounting pressure since October 7 to address his promotion of these designated organizations.
Although Meta did not provide specific reasons for the removal of Khamenei’s accounts, digital rights researcher Mahsa Alimardani highlighted the importance of this step, suggesting that it should have been taken sooner, considering the harmful content directed towards Khamenei’s own people.
In addition to Meta’s social media crackdown, recent disclosures from Microsoft have drawn attention to cyber-attacks aligned with the Iranian government, initiated since October 2023. These attacks reportedly aimed to support Hamas while undermining Israel and its allies.
Despite Tehran’s official denial of involvement in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, Microsoft’s Threat Intelligence report reveals a troubling trend of increased Iranian cyber-enabled influence operations. These operations included disrupting streaming television services in multiple countries and disseminating deepfake news videos.
The escalating boldness and collaboration among Iranian and Iran-affiliated actors pose a significant threat, especially with the US elections approaching in November, according to Microsoft.
The report also indicates a surge in Iranian cyber activities, with 11 cyber-enabled influence operations recorded in October 2023 alone, compared to sporadic incidents in previous years. This escalation suggests a coordinated effort by Iranian actors to leverage cyber capabilities for geopolitical purposes.
As tensions persist in the region, experts caution against the potential for further cyber and influence operations orchestrated by Iran and its affiliates. Meta’s decision to remove Khamenei’s social media accounts underscores its dedication to combating online extremism and ensuring the safety of its platform users.
With geopolitical tensions intersecting with cyber warfare and social media influence, the evolving landscape presents intricate challenges for tech companies and policymakers alike. The actions taken by Meta and Microsoft are crucial steps in mitigating the risks posed by state-sponsored cyber activities and online extremism.
