Internet Shutdowns
Who Shuts Down the Internet the Most?
Based on 908 shutdowns we've tracked since 2018
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421 -
160 -
73 -
37 -
18 -
17 -
16 -
14 -
11 -
10
- Africa
- Americas
- Asia
- Europe
- Oceania
Ongoing
10
ongoing shutdowns around the world
94
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
20,690 hours
of access to the Internet due to intentional disruptions.
Over the past 12 months, we estimate that
US $74,278,981
has been lost in combined GDP across all countries that have experienced Internet shutdowns
Shutdowns
March 2021
908 shutdowns
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Past
Service blocking
Broadband, Mobile, Facebook
There are reports that Facebook and its messaging app have been restricted in Bangladesh since Friday, 26 March 2021. Reports suggest that the services are being blocked during the two-day visit of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to the country, which has led to protests.
Bangladesh
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 1 day
-
Past
Regional shutdown
Mobile
District of Shopian, in Jammu and Kashmir
Authorities ordered local telecommunication providers to suspend mobile data services in the district of Shopian from 21 March 2021 (23:20 local time) to 22 March 2021 (17:30 local time) to maintain law and order following terrorist activities in the region. This is the third shutdown the region has experienced in 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 18 hours
-
Past
National shutdown
Officials in the Republic of Congo shut down the Internet during the 2021 general elections, having previously done so during the 2016 elections. The Internet went down just after midnight on election day, several hours before polling stations opened at 7:00 local time. Governments worldwide shut down the Internet during general elections, often citing 'public security' and 'stopping the spread of disinformation' as the motivating factor. Keeping the Internet on during an election, however, does the opposite: it ensures transparency, that people can access information on electoral processes and candidates, that they can remain in contact with each other in case of emergencies or civil unrest, and ensures that the election process can be reported and results documented. Shutting down the Internet for any length of time has disastrous consequences on the economy, and both businesses and individuals lose out on critical opportunities to do business.
Congo
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 3 days
-
Past
National shutdown
Mobile data
Reports suggest that the military has ordered mobile Internet connectivity restricted from 1:00 to 9:00 local time. These follow previous orders by the military since its coup in January 2021, to restrict Internet access and block social media sites. 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.
Myanmar
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 56 days, 8 hours
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Past
Regional shutdown
Mobile
District of Shopian, in Jammu and Kashmir
Authorities ordered local telecommunication providers to suspend mobile data services in the district of Shopian from 13 March 2021 (21:00 local time) to 15 March 2021 (21:00 local time) to maintain law and order following terrorist activities in the region. 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
Mobile
Anantnag
Authorities ordered local telecommunication providers to suspend mobile data services in the district of Anantnag from 10 March 2021 (16:10 local time) to 11 March 2021 (14:30 local time) to maintain law and order following terrorist activities in the region. This is the third shutdown in the Anantnag region 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 20 hours
-
Past
Regional shutdown
Mobile
Bhainsa, in Andhra Pradesh
Authorities suspended Internet services in Bhainsa town in the district of Andhra Pradesh on 8 March 2021 to maintain law and order following civil unrest. 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
-
Past
Regional shutdown
Broadband, Mobile
N'djamena
There are reports that Internet Service Providers in Chad were disrupted from 23:30 local time on Thursday, 4 March, until the evening of Friday, 5 March. These measures come two days after another unconfirmed Internet shutdown in the city came to an end.
Chad
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 22 hours
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Past
Service blocking
Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Telegram
The Senegalese government blocked access to social media and messaging apps such as Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, and some Telegram servers starting on the evening of Thursday, March 4, and continuing until March 5th, 2021. The blocking of social media and messaging was implemented after one of the biggest series of protests in Senegal's modern history. The protests were sparked by the arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko on charges of rape and public disruption.
Senegal
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 1 day
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Past
Regional shutdown
Anantnag and Kulgam districts
India
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 0 minutes
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