Iran's parliament on July 27 approved a contentious government bill aimed at "Combating the Spread of Untrue News Content" in social media, ISNA reported.  

The legislation has drawn significant criticism from various quarters, with opponents arguing it undermines freedom of speech and contradicts President Masoud Pezeshkian's campaign pledges.

The bill's passage comes just after Iran's 12-day conflict with Israel, leading many to view it as a governmental move to further tighten controls on public freedoms in response to the recent crisis. Earlier, a directive proposing freer internet access for certain businesses also sparked controversy, with critics labelling it a discriminatory and tiered internet service.

A group of lawmakers had previously voiced their concerns directly to the President, criticising the bill for its potential to restrict freedom of expression, threaten independent media, and weaken the country's social media space.

Prominent journalist and social activist Abbas Abdi, writing in Etemad Newspaper, argued that the bill's practical effect would be to prohibit freedom and monopolise news in the hands of the government. He stated this would be "the biggest blow to the truth," suggesting it would not prevent lies or rumours but rather spread them.

Former telecommunications minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi echoed these concerns on his Telegram channel, stating that freedom of expression would "very highly probably" be violated due to the bill's broad definitions and disproportionate penalties. He sharply added, "This was not the president's promise to the people!"

Mohsen Borhani, in a detailed critique published in Shargh newspaper, highlighted several flaws. He pointed out that the bill's vague phrasing could lead to subjective interpretations when dealing with social media activists. Also, replacing "spreading lies" with "untrue content" significantly expands criminalisation. Borhani explained that even if someone conveys part of the truth but not the entire truth, they could still be accused of disseminating "untrue content" and face severe penalties.

Borhani also condemned the significantly harsher punishments introduced by the bill. Penalties, previously ranging from three months to two years for "spreading online lies," have now been increased to six months to two years, with the potential to escalate to two to five years, five to ten years, and even ten to fifteen years under easily met conditions. Alarmingly, Article 14 reportedly suggests that cases should first be investigated for "corruption on earth," which could potentially lead to the death penalty.

Regarding the social consequences, Borhani warned that the bill would induce "conservatism and silence" across society. He believes individuals will avoid commenting for fear of "possible slippage and heavy punishment," leading to a silence that he describes as the beginning of "social degeneration."

Despite the widespread criticism, the government has defended the bill, asserting that its passage does not impede freedom of expression but rather implements several principles of the Constitution. It argues that the conditions for the law's application are set out with strict detail to ensure it does not restrict free speech.

After a debate listening to both supporters and opponents, parliamentarians voted overwhelmingly in favour of the bill, with 205 votes in favour, 49 against, and 3 abstentions out of 257 members present.