TEHRAN – Instagram has taken action to limit user access to the accounts of Iranian news agencies and journalists, a move that seems to be aimed at influencing the outcome of Iran's upcoming June 28 election.
Last week, Tasnim news agency, a leading media outlet in Iran, revealed that its Instagram account was suspended abruptly and without any prior warnings or explanations. The agency noted that a similar action was taken by Meta in 2021, when Tasnim's Instagram account was suspended two weeks before the presidential elections. Tasnim regained access to its account only after the election results were announced, as stated on the agency's telegram channel.
Other Iranian media sources and journalists have reported that their followers have informed them that their posts are no longer showing up in their feeds, even though they are still following these outlets and individuals.
Meanwhile, Iranian media outlets based in the West and funded by Israel have been utilizing Instagram to encourage Iranian citizens to abstain from participating in the Friday polls, branding voters as "supporters of terrorism" and "traitors."
Meta has a history of assisting Israel and Western states in manipulating elections in other countries.
In March, the Tehran Times reviewed documents that revealed Meta's communication with high-ranking intelligence officials and politicians in the West. One specific example cited Facebook's involvement in influencing the 2020 election results in Guyana by promoting smear campaigns against a candidate believed to have close ties to China.
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