Source: Mission Network News, September 15, 2025
The internet is a great tool to learn more about the situation in the world, deepen one’s knowledge of a certain topic, or find an answer to a burning question. But under Iranian laws, some innocent searches can land a person in jail.
Despite the risks, Iranians search for news, popular movies and songs, and truth beyond Islam. They often turn to local VPNs—tools meant to hide their identity online. However, these are often unsafe.
Many local VPNs are run by the government to leak personal data. Whether it is a question about the divinity of Jesus or a desire to check the news from government-disapproved websites, a quick search may lead to years of trouble.
Transform Iran responded by offering a free VPN. “It is high speed, it’s reliable, it’s secure, but also our users can be confident to know that their data truly is secure and won’t be sold out to the government,” says [Transform Iran spokesperson Lana Silk].
See also two more stories related to technology:
- Dreams and Digits: every mission team needs a digital media strategy (Ted Esler)
- What if Language Were Not a Barrier? Apple AirPods & Live Language Translation (Pioneers-USA)