Iran’s regime is proving that you don’t need cutting-edge AI to build a surveillance state—just centralized data and the will to control. New research reveals how Tehran is fusing e-government databases, mobile SIM registration, vehicle records, and national ID systems to monitor and penalize dissent. Instead of relying solely on advanced facial recognition, authorities cross-reference CCTV footage, license plate numbers, geolocation data, and mobile device records to identify citizens. The result is a hybrid surveillance apparatus that reaches from the streets into the digital lives of ordinary Iranians.

At the heart of this system lies a web of interconnected identity platforms—national ID cards, civil registries, judicial authentication tools, telecommunications systems, and banking data—all feeding into centralized verification networks. Applications like the Nazer app reportedly allow citizens to report hijab violations, triggering automated fines or warnings through SMS. Meanwhile, authentication frameworks require platforms to verify users against national registries, ensuring that online activity can be traced back to real-world identities. What is presented as “digital modernization” and “public service efficiency” increasingly functions as a mechanism of social control, where access itself becomes a lever of compliance.

SOURCE: Biometric Update