" Internet disruptions, bandwidth throttling during crackdowns, and infiltration of online networks have been reported again and again, including in the current protest wave. This can seem like an unglamorous and technical contribution, but it’s fundamental. Connectivity is everything. Iranians don’t need Westerners to give speeches or deploy armadas of clever new hashtags on X. They need the ability to talk to each other; circumvention tools; mirror networks; VPN access; satellite connectivity; rapid response support when shutdowns happen."