Iran Enforces Hijab Laws with Drones and Digital Surveillance

A recent UN report highlights Iran's use of drones and mobile apps for enforcing mandatory hijab laws, amid severe consequences for defiance. This renewed scrutiny follows the protests sparked by Mahsa Amini's death in custody, revealing systemic discrimination against women and heightened state surveillance.

Iran's theocratic regime has intensified its crackdown on women defying the mandatory hijab law, employing advanced surveillance technologies and community participation, according to a harrowing new report from the United Nations. The report illuminates a growing strategy of “state-sponsored vigilantism” wherein citizens are encouraged to utilize specific mobile applications to report women violating dress codes, especially in public transportation such as taxis and ambulances.

The situation in Iran has escalated since the tragic death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody in 2022, an incident that sparked nationwide protests demanding women's rights and an end to systematic oppression. The UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission, which released the report, determined that the Iranian government has increasingly incorporated drones and facial recognition technology to monitor compliance within cities, particularly Tehran and southern regions.

The consequences for women who resist these regulations are dire, often resulting in severe physical abuse, including arrest, beatings, and sexual violence in custody. The United Nations recorded that at least 901 executions took place in Iran in 2024, further emphasizing the brutality of state actions against dissenters.

Implementing tactics reminiscent of a police state, the regime has introduced the “Nazer” mobile app, enabling users to report uncovered women. Surveillance cameras now scan the streets for hijab violations, linking reports directly to law enforcement and triggering notifications to vehicle owners suspected of negligence regarding hijab adherence.

Interviews conducted with nearly 300 victims and witnesses revealed a troubling pattern of systemic abuse, intimidation of dissenters, and a judiciary devoid of independence. Additional horrifying accounts, including testimonies of mock executions and gang rapes, shed light on the extent of violence against women who question the regime’s authority.

The report, which aims to compel a global response, will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council on March 18, as the plight of Iranian women continues to spark international outrage.