The Iranian government’s ban on Telegram has led to widespread adoption of VPNs instead, according to the app’s co-founder Pavel Durov, who notes tens of millions of users have circumvented the block. This pattern of digital resistance, mirrored in Russia, highlights how decentralized tools like VPNs, encrypted messaging, and Bluetooth-based mesh networks are being used to bypass state-imposed internet controls and surveillance during periods of political unrest.
The Iranian government’s attempt to block the Telegram messaging application has backfired, according to co-founder Pavel Durov. Tens of millions of users in the country have circumvented the ban using VPNs and similar tools.
Durov stated that the government hoped for mass adoption of its own surveillance apps. “Now, 50 million members of the digital resistance in Iran are joined by over 50 million more in Russia,” he said.
Proponents argue decentralized technologies can mitigate state-imposed online restrictions. These tools include blockchain, cryptocurrency, and encrypted messaging applications.
Iran imposed a nationwide internet blackout in January 2026 amid protests and ongoing war. Residents still access the internet through the banned Starlink or communicate via BitChat, a Bluetooth mesh network application.
BitChat‘s mesh network transforms each device into a relay node, bypassing online systems entirely. The application saw significant uptake during government-imposed internet restrictions elsewhere.
The government of Nepal imposed a social media ban in September 2025, causing a spike in BitChat downloads. The application was downloaded over 48,000 times in Nepal the week of the ban, and the government was toppled by protestors that same month.
BitChat recorded a similar download spike in Madagascar amid protests. This occurred around the same time as the political revolution in Nepal.
