Iran is increasingly using advanced technology, including aerial drones, facial recognition systems, and a citizen-reporting app, to enforce its mandatory hijab laws, according to a United Nations report released on Friday. The report highlights how the Iranian government is relying on digital surveillance tools to monitor women’s adherence to the dress code and impose penalties on those who violate it.
A key part of this crackdown is the government-backed mobile application “Nazer,” which allows both citizens and law enforcement officials to report women for allegedly failing to wear the hijab. The app enables users to submit details such as a vehicle’s license plate number, its location, and the time at which a woman without a hijab was spotted. Once a report is filed, the app flags the vehicle, notifies authorities, and automatically sends a warning message to the registered owner, cautioning them about the violation. Repeated offenses could result in the impoundment of the vehicle.
Beyond the app, Iranian authorities have also deployed aerial drones in Tehran and southern Iran to scan public areas for hijab compliance. Researchers further revealed that facial recognition technology was introduced in early 2024 at the entrance of Amirkabir University in Tehran to monitor whether students were following the dress code. The UN report accuses Iran of carrying out systematic human rights violations and crimes against humanity in its efforts to suppress dissent, with a particular focus on targeting women and girls.
