The Thomson Reuters Foundation’s Trust Conference 2021 took place on 17-18 November, 2021. The Pulse team took part in a panel session on The Human Cost of Internet Shutdowns hosted by Jigsaw (Google).
Scott Carpenter, Director of Policy and International Engagement at Jigsaw was joined by Internet Society Pulse Shutdowns expert, Hanna Kreitem, Justin Henck, Product Manager, Jigsaw, Roya Ensafi, Assistant Professor in Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan & Founder of Censored Planet, Marianne Díaz Hernández, #KeepItOn Fellow, Access Now, and Felicia Anthonio, Campaigner and #KeepItOn Lead, Access Now.
The discussion focused on the acceleration of the frequency, severity and duration of government-imposed Internet shutdowns over the last decade, how artificial Internet limitations are used to quash dissent and stifle democratic participation, and how shutdowns cause untold damage to economies, education, and healthcare.