Women are the primary targets of Iran’s surveillance state
An Iranian official has indicated that surveillance cameras with facial recognition technology will be used to identify and fine women who fail to adhere to the country’s strict rules on wearing hijabs. After the 1979 revolution the hijab was made compulsory for all females over the age of nine.
On August 15, a law was signed which toughened rules on women appearing in public without hijabs or posting pictures on social media with their heads uncovered. Government employees with profile pictures that don’t conform with Iran’s hardline interpretations of Islamic law will be fired. A month prior to the signing of the law, the national “Hijab and Chastity Day” caused widespread protests in which women posted videos on social media with their heads uncovered in public places such as on buses and trains.
The authorities initiated a crackdown in response, with so-called morality police arresting, detaining, and even beating women before forcing them to “confess” to their supposed crimes on TV. In June we covered how Iran has been using trolls to target female activists online. The country has also frequently used mobile shutdowns.
About seven years ago, Iran began using biometric national identity cards. This required all new applicants for a national identity card as well as those renewing their existing cards, to scan their irises, fingerprints and faces. Without the card people are unable to access a host of services such as pensions and driving licenses.