**Drones and Digital Surveillance: Iran Tightens Grip on Women's Dress Code**

The UN's latest report reveals the use of drones, surveillance apps, and state-sponsored vigilantism in the ongoing suppression of women in Iran.

Iran is employing advanced digital technologies, including drones and mobile applications, to enforce its stringent dress code and intensify control over women's behavior, as detailed in a recent United Nations report. The investigation highlights how Iranian authorities are promoting a culture of "state-sponsored vigilantism," encouraging citizens to report women not adhering to the mandatory hijab laws through specialized applications. This strategy extends to monitoring compliance in public spaces with the aid of drones and security cameras across Tehran and other regions.

The consequences for women who resist these mandates remain dire, with reports of imprisonment, physical abuse, and sexual assault while in custody. The situation escalated following the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, whose alleged mistreatment by morality police sparked widespread protests. The unrest continues, facing a brutal crackdown, but women in Iran are reportedly determined to assert their rights despite extreme risks.

The UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission details the role of technology in systematic discrimination against women, stating that compliance with hijab laws has become framed as a civic duty. This has led to the implementation of facial recognition software at major universities and the use of surveillance on roads to identify women who do not wear the hijab in vehicles.

Investigators reviewed testimonies from nearly 300 victims, revealing a pattern of intimidation and judicial corruption, alongside documented instances of extrajudicial killings and sexual violence against detainees. A report detailing these findings will be presented to the Human Rights Council on March 18, potentially drawing international attention to ongoing violations in Iran.