23 July 2026
To align with an extensive cleanup of our Internet shutdowns data set, we’ve refreshed the front end of the Pulse Shutdown Tracker page. This is still an interim step before we do an even larger redesign, but the data update should make the Tracker easier to use.
What's New
Better geographical overview with a world map
The original version of Shutdowns included a world map, but it was difficult to use and didn’t deliver the value we hoped. We decided to remove it until we finished the migration and could update our visualization libraries. So now we’ve reintroduced it with some simple layers and a feature that lets you see data on ongoing shutdowns right in the map.
New verification levels allow us to expand the number of events we track
We use the Keep It On Coalition’s shared definition of an Internet shutdown, but, compared with some of our partners, we generally require more specific technical data before we can add a shutdown to the Tracker. This, however, means that we’ve either been late to add events or had to exclude some that appear to be shutdowns but don’t necessarily meet all the criteria, which has a negative impact on our community.
Shutdowns have always been challenging to track, and they’re becoming even more difficult to pinpoint in measurement data. By adding an “unconfirmed” category, we can now include events that we’re relatively confident about, but are either still confirming or that don’t meet all of the evidential criteria. This will also help us meet the challenge of tracking events in an evolving landscape.
Easier view of ongoing shutdowns using metadata-rich clickable cards
In the previous version, you had to intentionally select “only show ongoing shutdowns,” meaning the default view still sorted by start date, burying some of the longest-running shutdowns. Rather than simply changing the default view, we made the distinction even stronger, showing clickable cards only for shutdowns that are happening right now. We’ve used the new metadata to make them easier to scan for the basics, and you can still click through and read the incident page in full. We moved everything else into the table at the bottom of the page.
Explore, compare, filter, and sort all tracked shutdowns in a table
In addition to burying some of the ongoing shutdowns, showing all the events in a feed of clickable cards made it difficult to find patterns in the data, and older shutdowns got somewhat lost. We’ve moved all historical shutdowns into a table to better serve the researchers and advocates who want to find patterns in the data. You can still click through to the full incident page, which includes both historical and ongoing incidents, so you won’t miss any.
Improvements
Metadata improvements make it easier to scan pages and spot data patterns
The primary enabler for all of these changes is a months-long deep dive into the entire dataset. We updated categories and turned free-text data into metadata, making it easier to sort, filter, download, and explore more of the data (which is now available in the API). Bring on the pivot tables!
A simplified, more narrative design experience
The data cleanup also made it easier for us to create simpler, metadata-rich cards that show the essential data about ongoing shutdowns. We updated some components based on user feedback (it was hard to tell what was or wasn’t clickable), and we’ve made more space for advocacy messaging, including clarifying our definition and stance on shutdowns.
You can now explore the data in the bar chart
You can still sort by combined total hours or total number of shutdowns, but we also added filters for region, and you can exclude sub-national shutdowns from the bar chart. We’ll continue adding ways to explore data, especially now that we’ve updated the library, but the benefit here is that, while the chart still makes it clear that India and Iraq experience the most shutdowns globally, you can also compare and contrast more easily.