Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has taken a decisive step by removing the social media accounts of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This move comes as part of Meta’s effort to enforce its policy against Dangerous Organizations & Individuals.
The accounts of Ayatollah Khamenei, which boasted over 5 million followers on Instagram alone, were permanently disabled for repeated violations of Meta’s policy. This policy prohibits the presence of individuals or organizations promoting violence or supporting designated terrorist groups by the US government.
Iran has long been accused of supporting groups like Hamas and the Houthis, both of which are designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) by the US government. The removal of Khamenei’s accounts follows mounting pressure on Meta since October 7 to address his promotion of these designated organizations.
While Meta did not specify the exact reasons for removing Khamenei’s accounts, digital rights researcher Mahsa Alimardani emphasized the significance of this action, suggesting that it should have been taken sooner given the harmful content against Khamenei’s own people.
In addition to the social media crackdown, recent revelations by Microsoft have shed light on Iranian government-aligned cyber-attacks launched since October 2023. These attacks were reportedly aimed at supporting Hamas and 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 highlights a concerning trend of increased Iranian cyber-enabled influence operations. These operations included disrupting streaming television services in several countries and disseminating deepfake news videos.
The growing brazenness and collaboration among Iranian and Iran-affiliated actors pose a significant threat, particularly in the lead-up to the US elections 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 occurrences in previous years. This escalation suggests a concerted effort by Iranian actors to exploit cyber capabilities for geopolitical ends.
As tensions persist in the region, experts warn of the potential for further cyber and influence operations orchestrated by Iran and its affiliates. The removal of Khamenei’s social media accounts underscores Meta’s commitment to combating online extremism and ensuring the safety of its platform users.
With geopolitical tensions intertwined with cyber warfare and social media influence, the evolving landscape presents complex challenges for tech companies and policymakers alike. As the world grapples with these multifaceted threats, the actions taken by Meta and Microsoft serve as crucial steps in mitigating the risks posed by state-sponsored cyber activities and online extremism.
