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What is this guide and who is it for?

“Navigating Tech and Human Rights in Iran: A Human Rights Impact Assessment Guide to Engage, Assess, Act” provides guidance for evaluating the impact of digital services and products on the human rights of the Iranian people. Technology companies face a range of challenges when deciding whether and how to provide services to Iranians, from the blocking of their services by the Iranian authorities to navigating complex international technology and financial sanctions. The fear of association with Iran's authoritarian government, lack of contextual understanding of various communities in and outside the country, and limited linguistic resources can also result in legal, financial, and reputational risks for technology companies. Despite these challenges, Iranians require and use many information and communication services whether directly or indirectly. Technology companies' decisions about providing and maintaining services for Iranians have significant human rights consequences.

This guide helps to identify the potential human rights impacts of technology companies' policies and products on the Iranian people and provides guidance on how to prevent and mitigate those negative human rights impacts. It is important to note that this guide is not exclusive to Iran; it can serve as a valuable resource for countries facing similar situations in terms of authoritarian rule and digital access challenges. By using this guide, technology companies can gain insights into navigating the complexities of operating in restrictive environments while upholding human rights principles.

This guide features multiple components designed for use throughout the assessment process. These include:

• An overview of product categories and the human rights harm experienced by Iranian communities both domestically and within the diaspora community.
• A guide for stakeholder mapping and engagement strategies with the knowledge that direct engagement and fieldwork may not be a feasible option. This also includes a guide on developing personas that take into account vulnerability and linguistic factors specific to the Iranian community.
• A guide for conducting gap analysis on policies related to digital rights issues in Iran

The guide is primarily designed for:

• Technology companies seeking to understand the potential human rights harms and benefits of their products and their Trust and Safety approaches, governance structures and policies to Iranians. It helps them to make informed decisions about how to provide their services to Iranians.
• Technology investors seeking to evaluate the human rights implications of their portfolio companies on the Iranian people.
• Consultancy groups that perform human rights impact assessments, trust and safety evaluations, and other types of Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) assessments for technology companies can benefit from this resource. It aims to enhance their understanding of the context surrounding digital rights in Iran.

In addition to the primary audience, this guide can be used by:

• Policymakers who are interested in learning about the human rights impact of technology companies on Iranians and advocating for the human rights of Iranians. It is also useful for government agencies that provide Internet connectivity and assist with digital development in or related to Iran.
• Journalists and civil society organizations focused on digital rights issues in “the Majority World” and related topics.
• Developer communities, including open source software developers and maintainers, programmers.