Iranian Authoritarian Regime Implements AI Technology to Enforce Compulsory Headscarves for Women

The Islamic Republic of Iran is increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to crack down on its populace, particularly impacting the freedoms of Iranian women. The regime’s use of various technologies like facial recognition, CCTV, cell phone analysis, traffic geolocation, and internet monitoring is enhancing its cyber crackdown on street protesters and women who do not adhere to the required hijab.

The forthcoming Hijab and Chastity Bill, awaiting ratification from the regime’s Guardian Council, will further solidify the use of AI tools in enforcing compliance with the hijab requirements. This bill allows authorities to leverage lawfare and economic warfare against women, targeting their homes, cars, bank accounts, and livelihoods.

The bill includes provisions that enable the police to create intelligent systems for identifying illegal behavior using tools such as cameras. Businesses are also required to turn in video footage for compliance checks, with possible repercussions for non-compliance ranging from fines to social exclusion, exile, and imprisonment for up to 10 years.

In preparation for increased use of AI, the Iranian regime began installing new cameras throughout the country as early as April 2023. Amnesty International reported various pressures exerted on Iranian women, with police sending warning messages to women captured unveiled in their cars and confiscating vehicles belonging to repeat offenders.

During protests in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini, suspected AI monitoring of social media platforms by the Iranian regime was reported. The U.S. has decided to block exports of AI chips to countries like China, Iran, and Russia to limit their access to advanced AI capabilities, recognizing the potential for misuse of technology for oppressive measures.

Overall, the use of AI by the Islamic Republic of Iran is aimed at further controlling its population, particularly targeting women and enforcing strict adherence to hijab requirements. Efforts to control the export of advanced technology to countries like Iran are seen as necessary to prevent the misuse of AI for oppressive actions, underlining the importance of international cooperation in regulating the spread of technologies that could be used to suppress populations.