On September 13, 2022, Mahsa Amini was brutally beaten by the so-called morality police. She wore a veil, a mandatory detail in Iran, but it did not cover her head correctly. The officers dragged her into a van and assaulted her severely. She fell into a coma, and three days later, the 22-year-old Kurdish woman died in hospital.
Her death sparked widespread discomfort and a wave of protests. The compulsory dress code, in place since 1979, drew sharp condemnation. Penalties for failing to comply include prison terms, while participating in demonstrations carries much harsher consequences. Amnesty International reported that authorities routinely detained women and girls, subjected them to torture and other ill‑treatment, and faced calls from many citizens to challenge the regime. Some women even publicly cut their hair and burned headscarves in acts of defiance.
Almost a year later, despite harsh conditions, the protest movement remains active. Tehran has turned, in part, to artificial intelligence to tighten control over the population. NGO Article 19 notes that security cameras are used for face recognition to identify women who do not wear veils, enabling police to punish violations without direct intervention.
Data of all citizens
Protests against the veil law have been among the most serious demonstrations in Iran since 2019, when rising gas prices ignited street protests. More than 500 people died due to police excesses, with some receiving death sentences. The feminist surge brought global attention to the issues, and even though about 80,000 prisoners were pardoned in March, including some who condemned Amini’s murder, critics argued that amnesty was aimed at appeasing protesters.
In 2015, Tehran established a national biometric database storing citizenship information like fingerprints and iris data. These highly personal details are unique identifiers that enable precise recognition. Amnesty International reports increasing complaints from women in Iran; police have sent over a million notifications since April 15 for violations such as not wearing a headscarf while driving.
Gender discrimination
The regime continues to sharpen its repression, preparing a new law aimed at promoting chastity and headscarf culture. This draft would equate not wearing the veil with nudity and carry penalties up to five years in prison, along with potential vehicle confiscation, wage withholding, or restricted access to banking services. In August, Parliament approved assigning the debate to a closed commission, limiting public discussion. The law would also prosecute those who encourage noncompliance on social networks.
UN experts described the move as a clear form of gender discrimination, noting that authorities appear committed to exerting control over women and girls and overcoming resistance through legal pressure.
There are reports that security cameras were sourced from a Chinese company, Tiandy, with suspicions around involvement from other major manufacturers such as Huawei. Some claims also point to Bosch cameras repurposed to support repressive monitoring. Hackers’ groups have claimed that Iranian authorities may be integrating a broader array of surveillance technologies to track and punish dissenters.
Scare method
State media outlets have demonstrated the supposed capabilities of these systems, suggesting that facial recognition can identify individuals no matter the time of day. Authorities have been employing these measures for years as a means of intimidation. A recent statement from the head of a parliamentary committee outlined a policy: after a first warning via text message, those who continue to defy the headscarf rule in public service settings could be denied access to services, and ongoing defiance might be referred to judicial authorities for further action.