In Iran, it is mandatory for women to wear the hijab in public, as per the constitution. Those who do not comply with this law face severe consequences, including arrest and other punishments. Recently, reports have revealed that drones are being used in Tehran and southern regions of Iran for surveillance to catch women not adhering to the hijab rule. The surveillance is backed by facial recognition technology and an app named ‘Nazer,’ which is being used to track and report non-compliant women.

The app, which can be downloaded on mobile devices, allows anyone, including civilians or police officers, to report a woman not wearing a hijab. Through the app, the authorities receive detailed information such as the woman’s location, vehicle license plate number, and the time she was without the hijab. The authorities are alerted immediately, and the app sends a warning message to the vehicle’s owner, notifying them of the violation. If the warning is ignored, the vehicle may be impounded.

The scope of this app was expanded in September 2024 to target women in taxis, ambulances, and public transport. The app is now also integrated with Iran’s police website, further strengthening the country’s efforts to enforce hijab laws.