After temporarily banning the use of Telegram, a secure communications app that allowed young, modern Iranians to coordinate protests across the country a few months ago, the Iranian government has responded to the calls of its people and instituted a new, (likely) government-monitored communications app that has all of the same features of Telegram except that, of course, it’s operated under the direct supervision of Iranian Mullahs.
The BBC reports that the Iranian government has introduced Soroush, claiming that the Ayatollah has even shut down his Telegram account (not exactly surprising) and opened an account on Soroush. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard is offering users the chance to win five solid gold coins if they switch to Soroush from Telegram and send proof.
Iranians are, of course, skeptical of Soroush’s claims that it is identical to Telegram in every way, allowing that “users join groups, create channels, follow news, and send files, videos, pictures, and audio.” There is no promise, of course, that the government isn’t scanning all files, videos, pictures, and audio for evidence that users are plotting to overthrow the militant Islamic force that rules their lives.
There are a few additional features to Soroush, including a handful of exclusive emojis that users can employ to signal their thoughts on America and . . . um . . . freemasonry.
Iran’s launched a messaging app called Soroush to replace Telegram. Comes with “Death to America” and “Death to Freemasons” emojis. pic.twitter.com/di8BfcTtv6
— Alistair Coleman (@alistaircoleman) April 24, 2018
They’re so hateful they’re almost adorable. There’s even a “Death to Israel” emoji, but Soroush isn’t using that one in its promotional material.
Some Iranians have even made fun of the app’s “WhatsApp” style check mark system, which awards three check marks instead of two (to indicate “sent” and “read”). The third check mark, they joke, means the Iranian Revolutionary Guard has scanned the message and determined it “safe.”
Telegram is facing a series of bans from controlling governments. In addition to Iran’s new “alternative,” Telegram is now banned in parts of Russia over concerns the app wasn’t complying with government rules that require messaging services to warn the Russian government of “subversive” messages being sent using the app. In Iran, the government allows people to use Telegram, but shuts down the app by edict when they feel talk of revolution is getting too strong.