GENEVA, Switzerland — Iran is increasingly using aerial drones, facial recognition software, and a citizen-reporting app to monitor and penalise women who defy its mandatory hijab laws, according to a United Nations report released Friday, March 14, 2025.
The report, compiled by a two-year fact-finding mission, accuses Iran of systemic human rights violations and crimes against humanity in its crackdown on dissent, particularly targeting women and girls.
The ‘Nazer’ App: Citizen-Driven Enforcement
At the centre of Iran’s surveillance apparatus is the “Nazer” mobile application, a government-backed tool that enables citizens and police to report women suspected of violating the dress code.
According to the report, users of the Nazer app can upload the license plate, location, and time of a vehicle in which a woman is seen without a hijab. The system then flags the vehicle for police intervention.
The app, accessible via Iran’s police force website (FARAJA), also sends a real-time text message to the registered owner of the vehicle, warning them of the violation and the potential impoundment of their car for repeated offences.
Initially deployed for private vehicles, the app was expanded in September 2024 to cover taxis, ambulances, and public transportation, broadening its reach.
Aerial Drones and Facial Recognition Expand State Control
The report also details the use of aerial drones to monitor compliance in Tehran and southern Iran, further enhancing the government’s surveillance capabilities.
Additionally, researchers found that facial recognition technology was installed in early 2024 at the entrance of Amirkabir University in Tehran, where it is reportedly used to identify female students not adhering to the hijab mandate.
Authorities have not publicly commented on these measures.
CNN has reached out to the Iranian embassy in London for a response but has not received a reply.
Severe Penalties Under Looming ‘Hijab and Chastity’ Law
Though suspended in December 2024 after internal debate, Iran’s draft law titled “Hijab and Chastity” remains a looming threat, the report warns.
If enacted, the law would impose up to 10 years in prison and fines as high as $12,000 for violations.
In an even more extreme measure, under Article 286 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code, women could potentially face the death penalty if accused of “corruption on earth” for defying hijab laws.
The proposed legislation would also expand enforcement powers for security forces and increase the use of surveillance technology in daily life.
Crackdown on Women and Dissent
Iran’s mandatory hijab laws have been a flashpoint for unrest, with protests intensifying since the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in the custody of the morality police.
The incident sparked nationwide demonstrations, which the UN estimates led to hundreds of deaths.
Despite international condemnation, Iran continues to escalate its use of technology to enforce compliance, further tightening state control over women’s public and private lives.
