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Alp Toker
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Alp Toker

Director of NetBlocks; tracks real-time internet shutdowns and connectivity disruptions globally.

Last refreshed: 9 May 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

How does NetBlocks detect Iran's tiered internet in real time?

Timeline for Alp Toker

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Common Questions
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.