Tiered Internet Is Unethical and Unprofessional

Date: January 2, 2023

The Tehran E-Commerce Association has issued a statement in response to recent remarks and discussions surrounding the concept of a so-called “tiered internet.”

According to the Public Relations Office of the Tehran E-Commerce Association, the statement reads:

“Three months after the implementation of unprecedented internet restrictions and the significant narrowing of access for the general public, instead of resolving the issue and addressing the numerous problems caused by this misguided decision, contradictory reports are now emerging about a plan referred to as ‘tiered internet.’ The Tehran E-Commerce Association firmly opposes any form of prioritized or discriminatory access to the internet and believes that such a plan would only add to existing challenges rather than resolve them.

The Association considers unrestricted, high-quality internet access to be a fundamental civil right. From this perspective, the type and quality of internet required by businesses and technology professionals are no different from those needed by the general public. Therefore, the adoption of such a policy is viewed as irrational, unethical, and ineffective. Moreover, pursuing initiatives of this nature would further deepen social divides and intensify public dissatisfaction.

The Tehran E-Commerce Association maintains that the normalization of tiered internet and its presentation as a method of internet governance would be detrimental to all active components of the digital ecosystem and would yield no outcome other than the long-term weakening of the industry.”