Public Law Studies Quarterly

Internet Content Filtering in International Human Rights Law and Iranian Legal System

Articles in Press

Document Type : Article

Authors

Amir Maghami 1
Hossein Sayyad Abdi 2

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Law, Faculty of Administrative Sciences and Economics, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

2 MA in Human Rights Law, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22059/jplsq.2025.378073.3553
Abstract
Cyberspace is subjected to the principle of Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Information; However, based on legitimate limitations and legal necessities, these freedoms are not absolute and may be restricted. This article examines norms of Human Rights Law about internet filtering, using a descriptive-analytical method, subsequently evaluates Iran’s Law. In conclusion, legal restrictions of freedom of expression and information are applicable to internet space and it is governed by same traditional principles and regulations stated in articles 19 and 20 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In virtue of differences between physical publication and internet-based publication, respecting the Principle of Distinction, beside the Principle of Proportionality, is necessary as well as related authorities (whether administrative or judicial) oblige to consider rules of the fair trial including being reviewed the filtering sentence (or decision) by higher tribunal. Iran’s Law has adopted System of Prosecution and empowered both administrative and judicial organs in parallel and also in spite of legal references to the Principles of Distinction and Proportionality, they might be violated in practice.

Keywords

Freedom of Information
Freedom of Speech
Human Rights
Internet Filtering
Iranian computer crimes Act
Principle of Distinction of Information.
Subjects
 English
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2. Joseph, S. & Castan, M. (2013). The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Cases, Materials and Commentary. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
 
B) Articles
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C) Cases
18. European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Application No. 50084/06, RTBF v. Belgium. Judgment, 29 March 2011.
19. Human Rights Committee (CCPR), Communication No. 574/1994, Keun-Tae Kim v. Republic of Korea. 64th session, 3 November 1998.
20. Human Rights Committee (CCPR), Communication No. 633/1995, Gauthier v. Canada. 65th session, 7 April 1999.
21. Human Rights Committee (CCPR), Communication No. 1014/2001, Baban v. Australia. 78th session, 6 August 2003.
22. Human Rights Committee (CCPR), Communication No. 926/2000, Shin v. Republic of Korea. 80th session, 16 March 2004.
23. Human Rights Committee (CCPR), Communication No. 1128/2002, Marques de Morais v. Angola. 83rd session, 29 March 2005.
24. Human Rights Committee (CCPR), Communication No. 1470/2006, Nurbek Toktakunov v. Kyrgyzstan. 101st session, 28 March 2011.
 
D) Documents
25. Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. “Recommendation CM/Rec (2011)8 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on the protection and promotion of the universality, integrity and openness of the internet”. 1121st meeting of the Minister’s Deputies, Strasbourg, France, 21 September 2011.
26. European Parliament (EP) & The Council of the European Union (CEU). “REGULATION (EU) 2022/2065, Single Market for Digital Services and Amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act)”. 19 October 2022.
27. Human Rights Committee (CCPR). “CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.10, General Comment No. 28: Article 3: The Equality of Rights Between Men and Women”. 68th session, 29 March 2000.
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30. Human Rights Committee (CCPR). “CCPR/C/IRN/3, Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 40 of the Covenant, Third periodic reports of States parties, Iran”. 27 October 2009.
31. Human Rights Committee (CCPR). “CCPR/C/IRN/CO/3, Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 40 of the Covenant, Concluding Observations of the Human Rights Committee, Islamic Republic of Iran”. 103rd session, 4 November 2011.
32. Human Rights Committee (CCPR). “CCPR/C/IRN/Q/3, List of issues to be taken up in connection with the consideration of the third periodic report of the Islamic Republic of Iran (CCPR/C/IRN/3)”. 101st session, New York, USA, 1 April 2011.
33. Human Rights Committee (CCPR). “CCPR/C/IRN/Q/3/Add.1, Replies from the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the list of issues (CCPR/C/IRN/Q/3) to be taken up in connection with the consideration of its third periodic report (CCPR/C/IRN/3)”. 102nd session, Geneva, Switzerland, 18 July 2011.
34. Human Rights Committee (CCPR). “INT/CCPR/GEC/4720/E, General Comment No. 11: Article 20”. 19th session, 1983.
35. Human Rights Council of the United Nations (UNHRC). “A/HRC/17/27, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Frank La Rue”. 17th session, 16 May 2011.
36. Human Rights Council of the United Nations (UNHRC). “A/HRC/RES/20/8, The Promotion, Protection and Enjoyment of Human Rights on the Internet”. 20th session, 5 July 2012.
37. The International Convention concerning the Use of Broadcasting in the Cause of Peace.
38. United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). “A/RES/1721(XVI)[B], International co-operation in the peaceful uses of outer space”. 16th Session, 20 December 1961.
39. United Nations Security Council (UNSC). “S/Res/2253, Resolution 2253”. 7587th meeting, 17 December 2015.
 
References in Persian:
A) Books
1. Alipour, H. (2017). Information Technology Criminal Law. Tehran: Khorsandy Pub (In Persian).
2. Abbasi, B. (2016). Les Droits de l’homme et les Libertes. Tehran: Dadgostar Pub (In Persian).
3. Kadkhodaee, A. (2018). Direct Broadcasting of Satellite Programs from the Perspective of International Law. Tehran: Shahre Danesh (In Persian).
 
B) Articles
4. Esmaeili, M. & Nasrollahi, M. S. (2016). The Nature and Problems of Cyberspace Filtering according to Islamic Jurisprudence. Religion & Communication, 49(1), 53-80. https://doi.org/10.30497/rc.2016.1875 (In Persian).
5. Babazadeh Moghaddam, H. & Asadi, A. (2017). Principles for filtering news websites. New Media Studies, 3(9), 163-194. https://doi.org/10.22054/cs.2017.10650.39 (In Persian).
6. Babazadeh Moghadam, H. & Eslamkhah, A. (2016). Internet Filtering in Europe. News Sciences, 5(17), 137-156 (In Persian).
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8. Barzegar, A. & Mostafaee, L. (2014). Moqarrarate Hakem bar Internet va Filteringe An dar Iran. The Paper Submitted in The first national conference on advocacy, ethics, jurisprudence and law. Meybod (In Persian).
9. Kadkhodaee, A. (2008). Legal and International Pyramids of Protection of Cultural Rights in the Framework of Article 10 of the Law on the Prohibition of the Use of Satellite Receiving Equipment (Approved in 1373). In Legal Challenges of Direct Broadcasting Satellite in National & International Systems. edited by Legal Studies Group of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. Tehran: Soroush Pub (In Persian).
10. Maghami, A. & Attaran, N. (2019). The Balance between Celebrities Privacy in Family Life in the Media and Freedom of Expression in the Jurisprudence of Judicial Courts. Public Law Studies Quarterly, 49(2), 311-331. https://doi.org/10.22059/jplsq.2018.219954.1390 (In Persian).
11. Mir Hosseini, S. M. & Ajam Zamani, M. (2016). Modiriyate Mohtavaye Qabele Dastrese Internet va Filteringe Houshmand. The Paper Submitted in The First International Conference on Management, Economics, Accounting and Education. Sari (In Persian).
12. Nasrollahi, M. S. (2018). Motale’eye Tatbighiye Moqarraratgozariye Palayeshe Fazaye Majazi dar Amrica, Ettehadiye Oroupa va Chin: Pishnahadhaye Siasati Baraye Iran. The Paper Submitted in First Conference on Governance and Public Policy. Tehran (In Persian).
Public Law Studies Quarterly

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 December 2027

  • Receive Date 15 June 2024
  • Revise Date 30 December 2024
  • Accept Date 29 November 2025

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