Iranians fear new bill will restrict Internet even further

Hedieloo shares a photo of one of his products on social media at his furniture workshop in the southern suburbs of Tehran, Iran. New legislation proposed by Iran's hard-line lawmakers that is designed to restrict access to social media applications in Iran has sent a wave of panic through society, stirring concerns among young Iranians, social media users and business owners. — AP

TEHRAN, Iran: For Ali Hedieloo, a 40-year-old making wooden furniture in Iran’s capital, Instagram is more than just a surfeit of glossy images. Like an estimated one million other Iranians, it’s how he finds customers, as the app has exploded into a massive e-commerce service in the sanctions-hit country.

But now, the social media platform has come under threat. Iran moved last week toward further government restrictions on Instagram and other apps, as hard-line lawmakers agreed to discuss a bill that many fear will undermine communication, wipe out livelihoods and open the door to the banning of key social media tools.