Iran is increasingly turning to advanced technology, including aerial drones, facial recognition, and a citizen-reporting app, to enforce its mandatory hijab laws, according to a United Nations report released on Friday.
The findings expose Iran’s deepening reliance on digital monitoring to identify and penalize women defying the dress code.
A key tool in this crackdown is the government-backed “Nazer” mobile application, which enables both citizens and law enforcement to report alleged hijab violations.
Technology-Driven Crackdown
The UN investigation, part of a two-year fact-finding mission, accuses Iranian authorities of widespread human rights abuses, particularly against women and girls.
According to the report, the “Nazer” app allows users to document vehicles where a woman is not wearing a hijab, providing details such as license number plate, location, and time.
“The app then ‘flags’ the vehicle online, alerting the police,” the report states. Additionally, it sends an automated text message to the registered vehicle owner, warning them about the violation and informing them that their car could be impounded if the warnings are ignored.
Initially launched for reporting private vehicles, the app’s scope broadened in September 2024 to cover taxis, ambulances, and public transportation, further tightening surveillance.
Meanwhile, authorities have deployed drones in Tehran and southern regions to oversee compliance in public spaces.
The UN report also highlights the installation of facial recognition systems at Amirkabir University in Tehran in early 2024, specifically designed to monitor female students’ adherence to the hijab rule.
Proposed Law Could Intensify Punishments
While Iran’s controversial “Hijab and Chastity” law was put on hold in December 2024 following internal debate, the report warns that it remains a serious threat to women’s rights.
If enforced, it would introduce penalties ranging from heavy fines of up to $12,000 to prison sentences of up to 10 years.
More alarmingly, under Article 286 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code, women accused of “corruption on earth” could even face the death penalty for violating the dress code.
The legislation also proposes expanding the powers of Iran’s security forces while reinforcing digital surveillance measures.
A History of Resistance
Iran’s hijab restrictions have sparked widespread unrest, particularly following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September 2022 while in the custody of Iran’s morality police. Her death ignited nationwide protests, during which hundreds of people were killed, according to UN reports.
The UN findings underscore growing concerns over Iran’s use of surveillance technology as a tool for repression, amplifying fears of heightened crackdowns in the future.
