As protests in Iran enter a second month, authorities are using plainclothes security officers, digital surveillance and drones to target the demonstrations that are now characterizing the movement, marking a new phase in the harsh government response.
The techniques are a response to protesters’ adaptations in an uprising that began after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini’s Sept. 16 death in police custody over alleged violations of the country’s dress code. Security forces have used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse large crowds, leaving hundreds dead and injured. In response, protesters have moved away from big gatherings in favor of pop-up demonstrations and other displays of resistance, such as women removing their headscarves, in a shift that has given the movement staying power.
