October 14, 2022
Control, Digital Censorship and Totalitarianism: The State Monopolization of Video-on-Demand Platforms in Iran
Masoumeh Hashemi
Abstract:
Video-on-Demand (VOD) platforms, like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, have transformed how we consume media, especially in the wake of a global pandemic. Iran is not an exception in this context, yet in the absence of a cohesive agenda, the conflict between different state entities over the regulative rights of audiovisual online platforms is intriguing. In countries like Iran, that lack a truly private sector, the rise of VOD platforms has resulted in a number of interesting regulatory conflicts. This paper is about some of these internal conflicts; it examines how state entities’ quarrels over regulatory rights have driven the Islamic Republic into a veritable political crisis centered around digital media governance, authority, and censorship.
Bio:
Masoumeh Hashemi has an MA in film studies from the University of Concordia and is a researcher at the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema there. She is currently working as a translator and researcher at Black Screen Office.