Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used by governments around the world for surveillance and control. In Iran, the regime is employing AI to crack down on its populace, particularly targeting women who do not adhere to strict hijab laws.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool for governments seeking to enhance their surveillance capabilities and suppress dissent. In the Islamic Republic of Iran, the regime is leveraging AI to intensify its crackdown on its populace, particularly targeting women who do not comply with its strict hijab laws.
Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, has highlighted the regime's efforts to integrate AI into its surveillance apparatus. According to Taleblu, the government is linking various technologies such as facial recognition, CCTV, cell phone analysis, and internet monitoring to bolster its cyber crackdown on protesters and women who deviate from the prescribed dress code.
The forthcoming Hijab and Chastity Bill, approved by the Iranian Parliament in September 2023, will incorporate enhanced AI tools. Article 30 of the bill mandates police to establish intelligent systems for identifying violators using fixed and mobile cameras. Businesses are required under Article 60 to submit video footage to enforcement personnel for compliance checks, facing penalties for non-compliance.
Women who fail to cover their hair properly face severe consequences, including fines, social exclusion, internet restrictions, and imprisonment. The bill extends the reach of AI, allowing authorities to target women's homes, vehicles, and livelihoods through economic and legal measures.
U.N. experts have denounced the Hijab and Chastity Bill as a form of gender persecution or apartheid, designed to suppress women into submission. In preparation for increased AI usage, the regime has installed new cameras throughout Iran since April 2023.
Between April 15 and June 14, 2023, Amnesty International documented increased pressure on Iranian women. During this period, police sent nearly 1 million SMS warning messages to women caught unveiled in their cars and confiscated over 2,000 vehicles for repeated offenses.
Amnesty International also reported that some women faced imprisonment, flogging, fines, or mandatory attendance at "morality" classes. Testimony suggests that confiscation orders were based on surveillance camera footage or reports from plainclothes agents using a police app.
The regime likely employed AI during the 2022 protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for wearing her hijab loosely. The UN's fact-finding mission determined that AI was used to monitor social media platforms during the protests.
In October 2023, the U.S. accelerated its timeline for blocking AI chip exports to China, Iran, and Russia to restrict their access to advanced AI capabilities. Taleblu recommends additional measures, such as export controls and monitoring of Chinese tech subsidiaries operating in Iran.
Taleblu emphasizes that the Iranian regime intends to use AI to reinforce its control over the population and suppress dissent. He cautions against the misuse of technology for oppressive purposes.
