The creators of a messaging app, accused of sharing user data with the Iranian regime, reside in a quaint coastal town in Britain. Hadi and Mahdi Anjidani, the co-founders of TS Information Technology, have established their company in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, since its inception in 2010. This UK branch is affiliated with the Iranian software corporation Towse’e Saman Information Technology (TSIT), which has diversified its offerings to include popular computer games, a payment platform designed to help Iranians navigate sanctions, and Gap Messenger—a messaging app marketed as an Iranian alternative to Telegram.
Controversial Claims and Investigations
Despite Gap Messenger’s claims of encryption and a commitment to user privacy, Iranian digital rights experts have raised concerns that contradict these assertions. A report from FilterWatch, an organization dedicated to monitoring internet censorship in Iran, has identified Gap Messenger as a significant player in the Iranian government’s efforts to control and suppress internet access.
Mahdi Anjidani, the chief executive of TSIT, has publicly expressed pro-regime sentiments in various Iranian media outlets, advocating for stringent censorship measures during a state television broadcast. Furthermore, reports suggest that one of his ventures, a social network named Virasty, has ties to the Iranian government through former deputy communications minister Amir Mohammadzadeh Lajevardi. Anjidani has also shared photographs on social media featuring himself alongside former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The Role of Domestic Platforms
Gap Messenger and Anjidani’s other ventures are integral to Iran’s domestic internet—a government-controlled network developed over the past decade to provide connectivity to 93 million citizens largely isolated from the global internet. This national internet serves as a mechanism for the regime to maintain control, particularly in light of recent anti-government protests that have resulted in significant violence and one of the most extensive internet shutdowns in history. Experts suggest that this blackout is strategically designed to isolate the populace while allowing the government to continue functioning and generating revenue.
Domestic messaging apps, such as Gap, have been actively promoted by Iranian authorities, with the intent of guiding users toward platforms that can be monitored. According to a researcher from the Outline Foundation, an anti-censorship organization, the primary objective of these local platforms is to facilitate surveillance and suppress dissent, rather than to foster innovation.
Growing Popularity Amidst Scrutiny
Despite the controversies, Gap Messenger has garnered significant attention, boasting over 1 million downloads on Google Play and an additional 4 million on Cafe Bazaar, an Iranian app store. The app features built-in payment services, games, online calling, and a variety of animal-themed stickers. However, FilterWatch’s findings indicate that Gap Messenger may have, at least once, provided user information to Iranian censorship authorities, as revealed by leaked emails from the attorney general’s office in late 2022.
Attempts to reach Mahdi and Hadi Anjidani for comment have gone unanswered. A visit to the Brighton home where TS Information Technology was initially registered revealed a reclusive family, with neighbors noting their infrequent interactions with the community. At the BizSpace workspace in nearby Hove, where TS Information Technology maintains an office, a receptionist mentioned that Hadi Anjidani had utilized the space for over 13 years, albeit rarely appearing outside of scheduled appointments.
Entrepreneurial Ventures and Government Ties
In Iran, Mahdi Anjidani has been recognized as an emerging tech entrepreneur, appearing on podcasts and receiving media coverage. His social media presence highlights meetings with influential figures, including the son of Dubai’s Sheikh Makhtoum and Ahmadinejad, who was photographed next to a display of Anjidani’s game, Kings Era. In interviews, Anjidani has characterized himself as a “child of the Islamic Revolution,” commending Iran’s elites for adapting to international sanctions by fulfilling the country’s software needs.
In discussions with an Iranian startup accelerator, he addressed strategies for circumventing sanctions and hinted at government backing for his app, mentioning “satellite offices” in England, Turkey, and the UAE. During a 2024 broadcast on Iranian state media, Anjidani criticized foreign-owned messaging apps and VPNs—tools that allow Iranians to bypass surveillance—while suggesting measures for government crackdowns on these services. An Iranian researcher, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, noted that Anjidani’s rhetoric aligns closely with government threats, indicating his proximity to the regime.
While the ongoing internet shutdown in Iran limits access to corporate records, it is evident that Gap Messenger is just one facet of the Anjidani brothers’ business endeavors. Archived information connects them to various enterprises, including an Iranian social network, an SMS-based advertising service, and MihanPayment, a platform facilitating international transactions within the Iranian banking system. Observers note that the privilege of establishing and operating domestic platforms like these in Iran is typically reserved for a select few, akin to the oligarchs surrounding Putin.