Internet Shutdowns
Who Shuts Down the Internet the Most?
Based on 908 shutdowns we've tracked since 2018
-
421 -
160 -
73 -
37 -
18 -
17 -
16 -
14 -
11 -
10
- Africa
- Americas
- Asia
- Europe
- Oceania
Ongoing
10
ongoing shutdowns around the world
95
Internet shutdowns around the world since December 2024
14
countries have experienced a total or partial Internet shutdown since December 2024
Since December 2024, the world’s population has lost a total of
20,550 hours
of access to the Internet due to intentional disruptions.
Over the past 12 months, we estimate that
US $74,192,619
has been lost in combined GDP across all countries that have experienced Internet shutdowns
Shutdowns
February 2024
908 shutdowns
-
Past
Regional shutdown
Mobile Internet
Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa Districts
On Saturday, 10 February, the Haryana government imposed Section 144 in anticipation of the farmers' planned 'Delhi Chalo' march on 13 February. As per an official decree, mobile Internet services and bulk SMS services will be inaccessible in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa districts on 11 February from 6:00 local time until 13 February 23:59 local time. Per reports, these orders were extended until 15 February 23:59 and have been extended several more times. Internet shutdowns during protests or civil unrest impact the citizens' ability to get accurate information from government sources when they need it most. It also becomes harder for citizens to contact family members and friends in other parts of the country or other countries.
India
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 17 days, 18 hours
-
Past
Regional shutdown
mobile Internet
Punjab District
Local authorities ordered mobile Internet services to be suspended in several regions of Pujab district during ongoing farmers' protests. These orders have been extended several times for certain regions to 'maintain public safety and avert public emergency.' Internet shutdowns during protests or civil unrest impact the citizens' ability to get accurate information from government sources when they need it most. It also becomes harder for citizens to contact family members and friends in other parts of the country or other countries.
India
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 23 days, 23 hours
-
Past
Regional shutdown
Sandeshkhali and Hingalganj
On Saturday, 10 February 2024, local authorities in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal, ordered for local Internet services to be suspended as part of Section 144 orders that were imposed to quell violence following two days of protests revolting against local leaders. These orders were extended to the adjacent Hingalganj area on 13 February 'so that tension does not spread to other areas,' according to local reports. The same day (13 February), a single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court reportedly quashed the orders imposing restrictions under Section 144, saying such prohibitory orders should only be put in place in areas identified as “troubled zone”. Internet shutdowns during protests or civil unrest impact the citizens' ability to get accurate information from government sources when they need it most. It also becomes harder for citizens to contact family members and friends in other parts of the country or other countries.
India
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 3 days
-
Past
Regional shutdown
Haldwani, Uttarakhand
Local authorities in Haldwani, Uttarakhand ordered Internet services to be suspended as part of curfew actions following reported violent clashes between police and protesters after authorities demolished a mosque, alleging it was constructed illegally. Internet shutdowns during protests or civil unrest impact the citizens' ability to get accurate information from government sources when they need it most. It also becomes harder for citizens to contact family members and friends in other parts of the country or other countries.
India
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 3 days
-
Past
National shutdown
mobile Internet
As the country held its provincial, national, and presidential elections today, Pakistan authorities ordered mobile Internet and phone services to be suspended nationwide to “maintain law and order”. The shutdown began around 02:00 UTC and connectivity was restored after the election starting around 15:00 UTC. Read our Pakistan Election 2024 report on the Pulse Blog for more details.
Pakistan
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 13 hours
-
Past
Regional shutdown
mobile Internet, public WIFI
Poonch and Rajouri District
Local authorities ordered mobile Internet and public WiFi services to be suspended in Poonch and Rajouri District of Jammu Province, India, on 7 February from 00:10 to 23:30 local time to prevent misuse of these services by 'anti-national elements/miscreants, which may cause deterioration in public order.' According to reports, this action was taken following the government of India’s decision to grant Scheduled Tribe status to Paharis, Padari, Koli, and Gadda Brahmins for reservations in the Union Territory. Internet shutdowns during protests or civil unrest impact the citizens' ability to get accurate information from government sources when they need it most. It also becomes harder for citizens to contact family members and friends in other parts of the country or other countries.
India
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 23 hours
-
Past
National shutdown
On Saturday, 3 February 2024, the government of Senegal suddenly postponed the upcoming presidential elections that were planned for 25 February. Amidst widespread protests after this announcement, the Senegalese Ministry of Communication, Telecommunication, and Digital Economy ordered a shutdown of mobile data access, citing the spread of "hateful and subversive messages."
Senegal
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 2 days, 2 hours
-
Past
National shutdown
Internet services have been disrupted again in Sudan amidst an increase in fighting intensity and violence. The measurements below reflect a drop in connections and traffic in the country, with the two major Internet Service Providers, Sudatel and MTN, going completely dark. The two networks have 53% and 21% of the Internet market share, respectively.
Sudan
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 100 days, 9 hours
January 2024
-
Past
National shutdown
Reports and measurements indicate that Internet connectivity in the island nation of Comoros was severely disrupted during a period of unrest and protests following the re-election of President Azali Assoumani. Media reports are stating the government is behind the disruption but we have not yet been able to independently confirm this. Measurements from IODA indicated that BGP routes were restored around 11:00 UTC on 18 January 2024. However, Cloudflare Radar continued to show access disruption at Comores Telecom (AS36939) until around 15:00 UTC on 19 January 2024. Internet shutdowns during protests or civil unrest impact the ability of citizens to get accurate information from government sources when they need it most. It also becomes harder for citizens to contact family members and friends in other parts of the country, or in other countries. We encourage all governments to #KeepItOn.
Comoros
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 1 day, 12 hours
-
Past
Regional shutdown
Rajasthan
The Regional Commissioner Bhawar Lal Meena ordered Internet services to be suspended in several districts of Rajasthan, India, on 7 January from 10:00 to 15:00 local time to prevent malpractices surrounding the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) examination. According to one report, 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G Internet services, along with SMS, MMS, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media services, were suspended. As we have repeatedly written about 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.
India
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 5 hours
- Page 23 of 91.