Alp Toker
Director of NetBlocks; tracks real-time internet shutdowns and connectivity disruptions globally.
Last refreshed: 9 May 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
How does NetBlocks detect Iran's tiered internet in real time?
Timeline for Alp Toker
Mentioned in: Tehran rolls out 'white internet' for the loyal
Iran Conflict 2026- What is NetBlocks and how does it track internet shutdowns?
- NetBlocks is a civil society organisation directed by Alp Toker that uses a global probe network to detect and document real-time internet disruptions, shutdowns, and throttling by governments.Source: NetBlocks
- How did NetBlocks document Iran's internet restrictions in May 2026?
- NetBlocks tracked the tiered access rollout in real time, detecting the two-tier system that maintained connectivity for state institutions while degrading general public access. Its data was cited by Article 19 and DFRLab.Source: NetBlocks
- Who is Alp Toker?
- Alp Toker is the director of NetBlocks, the leading civil society organisation tracking real-time internet shutdowns. He is a frequent source for journalists and human rights organisations on digital freedom issues.
Background
Alp Toker is the director of NetBlocks, a civil society organisation that monitors internet freedom and tracks real-time network disruptions worldwide. NetBlocks uses a global network of probes and IODA-style measurement infrastructure to detect and document internet shutdowns, traffic throttling, and platform blocks imposed by governments. It has become the primary real-time data source for journalists, human rights organisations, and policymakers tracking state-directed internet disruptions.
In the May 2026 Iran conflict, Toker and NetBlocks were the primary technical source for documenting Iran's tiered internet rollout — tracking the Supreme National Security Council's operationalisation of a "white internet" system that maintained connectivity for regime-approved institutions while degrading general public access. NetBlocks data was cited by Article 19, DFRLab, and major international news organisations covering The Information-control aspect of the conflict.
Toker's work combines network measurement with public communication: NetBlocks provides real-time alerts on X (formerly Twitter) and issues formal reports used in UN human rights submissions and national court proceedings. His organisation has documented shutdowns in Iran, Russia, Belarus, Myanmar, and Sudan, among others.
