Internet Shutdowns
Who Shuts Down the Internet the Most?
Based on 866 shutdowns we've tracked since 2018
- Africa
- Americas
- Asia
- Europe
- Oceania
Ongoing
11
ongoing shutdowns around the world
130
Internet shutdowns around the world since July 2024
17
countries have experienced a total or partial Internet shutdown since July 2024
Since July 2024, the world’s population has lost a total of
30,902 hours
of access to the Internet due to intentional disruptions.
Over the past 12 months, we estimate that
US $460,343,319
has been lost in combined GDP across all countries that have experienced Internet shutdowns
Shutdowns
August 2024
866 shutdowns
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Past
Regional shutdown
Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan regional authorities ordered Internet services to be suspended again on the morning of 26 July 2024, between 6:00 and 8:00 local time (+3 UTC). The shutdown comes on exam days as part of its efforts to prevent cheating. In an open letter to the Prime Minister of Iraq, the #KeepItOn coalition, which the Internet Society is a member, recently urged authorities to abstain from implementing Internet shutdowns during exams. The letter notes the lack of evidence demonstrating their impact on exam cheating, the economic cost of shutdowns on the country, and their violation of human rights.Iraq
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 2 hours
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Past
Regional shutdown
Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan regional authorities ordered Internet services to be suspended again on the morning of 24 July 2024, between 6:00 and 8:00 local time (+3 UTC). The shutdown comes on exam days as part of its efforts to prevent cheating. In an open letter to the Prime Minister of Iraq, the #KeepItOn coalition, which the Internet Society is a member, recently urged authorities to abstain from implementing Internet shutdowns during exams. The letter notes the lack of evidence demonstrating their impact on exam cheating, the economic cost of shutdowns on the country, and their violation of human rights.Iraq
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 2 hours
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Past
Regional shutdown
Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan regional authorities ordered Internet services to be suspended again on the morning of 21 July 2024, between 6:00 and 8:00 local time (+3 UTC). The shutdown comes on exam days as part of its efforts to prevent cheating. In an open letter to the Prime Minister of Iraq, the #KeepItOn coalition, which the Internet Society is a member, recently urged authorities to abstain from implementing Internet shutdowns during exams. The letter notes the lack of evidence demonstrating their impact on exam cheating, the economic cost of shutdowns on the country, and their violation of human rights.Iraq
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 2 hours
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Past
Regional shutdown
Badlapur
Internet services in Badlapur in Maharashtra's Thane district were suspended for 24 hours amidst a large scale protest that took place on 20 August 2024. Suspending Internet services during times of conflict restricts legitimate information and communication and limits freedom of speech and expression.India
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 1 day, 23 hours
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Past
Regional shutdown
Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan regional authorities ordered Internet services to be suspended again on the morning of 19 July 2024, between 6:00 and 8:00 local time (+3 UTC). The shutdown comes on exam days as part of its efforts to prevent cheating. In an open letter to the Prime Minister of Iraq, the #KeepItOn coalition, which the Internet Society is a member, recently urged authorities to abstain from implementing Internet shutdowns during exams. The letter notes the lack of evidence demonstrating their impact on exam cheating, the economic cost of shutdowns on the country, and their violation of human rights.Iraq
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 2 hours
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Past
Regional shutdown
Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan regional authorities ordered Internet services to be suspended again on the morning of 17 July 2024, between 6:00 and 8:00 local time (+3 UTC). The shutdown comes on exam days as part of its efforts to prevent cheating. In an open letter to the Prime Minister of Iraq, the #KeepItOn coalition, which the Internet Society is a member, recently urged authorities to abstain from implementing Internet shutdowns during exams. The letter notes the lack of evidence demonstrating their impact on exam cheating, the economic cost of shutdowns on the country, and their violation of human rights.Iraq
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 2 hours
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Past
Regional shutdown
Udaipur, Rajasthan
On 16 August, Udaipur authorities ordered Internet services to be suspended for 24 hours from 22:00 local time in several areas in the district to maintain law and order following a stabbing at a local school. These orders were extended twice, on 17 August and 18 August, following communal unrest. Although the final orders stipulated Internet services were to return at 22:00 on 19 August, multiple people reported some services not resuming until 21 August. Suspending Internet services during times of conflict restricts legitimate information and communication and limits freedom of speech and expression.India
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 3 days
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Past
National shutdown
On 13 August, Internet services were again disrupted in Mauritania from 8:00-12:00 UTC. This follows two disruptions the day before all of which are coinciding with baccalaureate exams happening this week in the country. These recent shutdowns comes less than a month after Internet services were restored after a 23 day national Internet shutdown following post-election protests.Mauritania
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 4 hours
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Past
National shutdown
Internet services were disrupted twice in Mauritania on 12 August from 8:00-12:00 UTC and 15:00-19:00 UTC. The disruption coincided with baccalaureate exams happening that day. This recent shutdown comes less than a month after Internet services were restored after a 23 day national Internet shutdown following post-election protests.Mauritania
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 11 hours
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Past
National shutdown
At the request of the Syrian Ministry of Education, the Internet in Syria was suspended on the morning of 8 August 2024, between 7:00 and 10:00 local time (+3 UTC) ahead of the last day of the second round of high school exams as per announcement by Syria Telecom. The company issued a schedule for the Internet and telecommunication services shutdown. Along with this shutdown event, mobile telecommunication is also scheduled to be shut off between 9:00 and 10:00 local time (+3 UTC). The first shutdown event in this series happened on 25 July. The #KeepItOn coalition, which the Internet Society is a member, recently urged Syrian and other authorities to abstain from implementing Internet shutdowns during exams, noting the lack of evidence demonstrating their impact on exam cheating, the economic cost of shutdowns on countries, and their violation of human rights. Since 2019, Syria has ordered multiple Internet shutdowns, all related to exams.Syria
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 3 hours
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