Internet Shutdowns

• Past

  National shutdown

  The government of Iraq is imposing daily Internet shutdowns during the second stage of middle/lower secondary school exams as part of its efforts to reduce cheating. The 3-hour shutdowns affect everyone in Iraq, except those in the Kurdistan region which had its own shutdowns as reported here. Today's shutdown (17 September) is visible on IODA graphs, Cloudflare Radar, and Google Transparency Report, as detailed in the graphs below. It is the 38 Internet shutdown event in Iraq in 2023. 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.    

  Iraq

  • Start 17 September 2023 01:00 UTC
  • End 17 September 2023 04:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 3 hours
• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Mobile Internet

  Haryana

  Mobile Internet services were suspended in Nuh in the Haryana district on 15 September 2023 for four days after local authorities imposed a curfew under Section 144 following communal violence and to stop the spread of misinformation and rumours following the arrest of Congress MLA Mamman Khan. 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.

  India

  • Start 15 September 2023 10:00 UTC
  • End 19 September 2023 23:59 UTC
  • Total Duration 4 days, 13 hours
• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Pusesawali village in Maharashtra's Satara district

  Internet services were suspended in Pusesawali village in Maharashtra's Satara district for four days after local authorities imposed a curfew under Section 144 following communal violence in the village on 9 September 2023. 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.

  India

  • Start 11 September 2023 00:00 UTC
  • End 14 September 2023 00:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 3 days

August 2023

• Past

  National shutdown

  Government of Iraq is imposing daily shutdowns during second stage of grade 9 school exams for the third day 29 August 2023. The 4 hour shutdowns of access to the Internet affects everyone in Iraq, except Kurdistan region which had its own shutdowns as reported here. The local government belief that this will reduce cheating during high school exams. 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 29 August 2023 01:00 UTC
  • End 29 August 2023 05:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 4 hours
• Past

  National shutdown

  Government of Iraq is imposing daily shutdowns during second stage of grade 9 school exams for the third day on 28 August 2023. The 4 hour shutdowns of access to the Internet affects everyone in Iraq, except Kurdistan region which had its own shutdowns as reported here. The local government belief that this will reduce cheating during high school exams. 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 28 August 2023 01:00 UTC
  • End 28 August 2023 05:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 4 hours
• Past

  National shutdown

  Government of Iraq is imposing daily shutdowns during second stage of grade 9 school exams for the third day on 27 August 2023. The 4 hour shutdowns of access to the Internet affects everyone in Iraq, except Kurdistan region which had its own shutdowns as reported here. The local government belief that this will reduce cheating during high school exams. 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 27 August 2023 01:00 UTC
  • End 27 August 2023 05:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 4 hours
• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Mobile Internet

  Haryana

  On 27 August, Haryana authorities ordered mobile Internet and SMS services to be suspended in Nuh district for 48 hours as a precaution against public unrest during a planned political rally.

  India

  • Start 27 August 2023 00:00 UTC
  • End 28 August 2023 00:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 1 day
• Past

  National shutdown

  Gabon's government ordered a public curfew and for the Internet to be shut down in Gabon following presidential, legislative, and local elections held on Saturday, 26 August 2023. Communications Minister Rodrigue Mboumba Bissawou said on public television that Internet access was suspended until further notice, noting the curfew and shutdown was ordered to "counter the spread of calls for violence... and false information." More than 40 civil society organizations issued a statement on 24 August 2023 calling on the government of Gabon to guarantee open and secure Internet access during the elections. The group stated that it is essential that governments adopt and prioritize measures to ensure that the election process is inclusive, free, and fair, by providing voters with unfettered access to information and avenues for free expression, both offline and online. On 30 August 2023, the military in Gabon seized power and placed the current president under house arrest. After the coup announcement, Internet service began returning across the country.

  Gabon

  • Start 26 August 2023 18:00 UTC
  • End 30 August 2023 07:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 3 days, 13 hours
• Past

  National shutdown

  Government of Iraq is imposing daily shutdowns during second stage of grade 9 school exams for the third day on 26 August 2023.The 4 hour shutdowns of access to the Internet affects everyone in Iraq, except Kurdistan region which had its own shutdowns as reported here. The local government belief that this will reduce cheating during high school exams. 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 26 August 2023 01:00 UTC
  • End 26 August 2023 05:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 4 hours
• Past

  National shutdown

  Government of Iraq is imposing daily shutdowns during second stage of grade 9 school exams for the third day on 24 August 2023.The 4 hour shutdowns of access to the Internet affects everyone in Iraq, except Kurdistan region which had its own shutdowns as reported here. The local government belief that this will reduce cheating during high school exams. 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 24 August 2023 01:00 UTC
  • End 24 August 2023 05:00 UTC
  • Total Duration 4 hours