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
20,701 hours
of access to the Internet due to intentional disruptions.
Over the past 12 months, we estimate that
US $74,257,391
has been lost in combined GDP across all countries that have experienced Internet shutdowns
Shutdowns
June 2021
908 shutdowns
-
Past
Service blocking
Twitter
From June 4, 2021 to January 13, 2022, the Nigerian government officially banned Twitter. The ban occurred after Twitter deleted tweets made by the Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari. The ban was lifted in January 2022 after Twitter agreed to "establish an office in the country, pay taxes there, appoint a representative and 'act with a respectful acknowledgment of Nigerian laws and the national culture and history.'"
Nigeria
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 223 days
-
Past
National shutdown
The shutdown affected all Leased Lines and ADSL customers. The Ministry of Education announced the shutdown ahead of time, and state-owned operator Syrian Telecom issued a notice that Internet service will be cut from 31 May to 22 June 2021, between 04:00 to 08:30 local time (UTC+3), noting that this may be extended until 10:30. The Syrian government has unplugged the Internet every year during student exams since 2016, after exam questions began appearing on social media. Yet there is growing evidence that shutdowns are an ineffective way to prevent cheating, as questions still get leaked in spite of an Internet blackout.
Syria
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 0 minutes
May 2021
-
Past
National shutdown
The shutdown affected all Leased Lines and ADSL customers. The Ministry of Education announced the shutdown ahead of time, and state-owned operator Syrian Telecom issued a notice that Internet service will be cut from 31 May to 22 June 2021, between 04:00 to 08:30 local time (UTC+3), noting that this may be extended until 10:30. The Syrian government has unplugged the Internet every year during student exams since 2016, after exam questions began appearing on social media. Yet there is growing evidence that shutdowns are an ineffective way to prevent cheating, as questions still get leaked in spite of an Internet blackout.
Syria
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 0 minutes
-
Past
Regional shutdown
Gaza
Bombing in Gaza in May 2021 by the Israeli air force destroyed local Internet infrastructure and caused an large outage.
Palestine, State of
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 10 days, 4 hours
-
Past
Regional shutdown
in Jammu and Kashmir'
'Shopian district
India
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 0 minutes
April 2021
-
Past
Service blocking
Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, Telegram
On April 16, 2021, Pakistan’s government ordered the country’s telecoms agency to temporarily shut down social media and instant messaging platforms after violent anti-France protests. The move was made amid fears that a radical group could use social media to perpetuate violent protests. The platforms that were unavailable included Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, YouTube and Telegram. Social media access was restored in Pakistan after four hours of blockage.
Pakistan
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 0 minutes
-
Past
Regional shutdown
Mobile, Broadband
Rajasthan, Baran, Chhabra
Authorities in Chhabra town of Rajasthan’s Baran district ordered mobile and broadband Internet services to be suspended from 11 to 13 April 2021 after shops and houses were set afire during communal clashes. 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
- End
- Total Duration 2 days
-
Past
Regional shutdown
Sopore
India
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 91 days
-
Past
Regional shutdown
Mobile
Shopian and Pulwama districts, Jammu and Kashmir
Authorities ordered local telecommunication providers to suspend mobile data services in the district of Shopian on 8 April 2021 to maintain law and order following terrorist activities in the region. This is the fifth shutdown the Shopian district has experienced in just over a month. 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
- End
- Total Duration 0 minutes
March 2021
- Page 52 of 91.