Internet Shutdowns

• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Kurdistan

  Iraq

  • Start 13 August 2023 03:00 UTC
  • End 13 August 2023 05:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 2 hours
• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Kurdistan

  Iraq

  • Start 12 August 2023 03:00 UTC
  • End 12 August 2023 05:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 2 hours
• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Kurdistan

  Iraq

  • Start 10 August 2023 03:00 UTC
  • End 10 August 2023 05:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 2 hours
• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Kurdistan

  Iraq

  • Start 9 August 2023 03:00 UTC
  • End 9 August 2023 05:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 2 hours
• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Kurdistan

  Iraq

  • Start 8 August 2023 03:00 UTC
  • End 8 August 2023 05:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 2 hours
• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Kurdistan

  Iraq

  • Start 7 August 2023 03:00 UTC
  • End 7 August 2023 05:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 2 hours
• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Kurdistan

  Iraq

  • Start 6 August 2023 03:00 UTC
  • End 6 August 2023 05:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 2 hours
• Past

  Service blocking

  Telegram

  Government of Iraq banned Telegram, an instant messaging service, on Iraq networks from the 5 August 2023. The Ministry of Telecommunication in the country issued a statement that upper authorities connected to national security mandated blocking access to the service. The blocking is apparent on all Iraqi networks except AS206206 – Kurdistan Net Company for Computer and Internet Ltd. On August 14, the government stated that they have reached an agreement where the company complied to the government requests, Telegram access to the service was restored as a result.

  Iraq

  • Start 5 August 2023 00:00 UTC
  • End 15 August 2023 00:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 10 days

July 2023

• Past

  National shutdown

  Another four-hour shutdown of the Internet for everyone in Iraq on 17 July 2023, in the Iraq government's belief that this will reduce cheating during high school exams. As we have repeatedly written about here on Pulse, Internet shutdowns cause great harm to a country’s economy and society and are in our opinion NOT the appropriate mechanism to cope with potential exam cheating.

  Iraq

  • Start 17 July 2023 01:00 UTC
  • End 17 July 2023 05:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 4 hours
• Past

  National shutdown

  Another four-hour shutdown of the Internet for everyone in Iraq, in the Iraq government's belief that this will reduce cheating during high school exams. The shutdowns are expected to continue on 17 July 2023. As we have repeatedly written about here on Pulse, Internet shutdowns cause great harm to a country’s economy and society and are in our opinion NOT the appropriate mechanism to cope with potential exam cheating.

  Iraq

  • Start 15 July 2023 01:00 UTC
  • End 15 July 2023 05:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 4 hours