Internet Shutdowns
Who Shuts Down the Internet the Most?
Based on 919 shutdowns we've tracked since 2018
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430 -
160 -
73 -
37 -
18 -
17 -
17 -
14 -
11 -
10
- Africa
- Americas
- Asia
- Europe
- Oceania
Ongoing
12
ongoing shutdowns around the world
104
Internet shutdowns around the world since January 2025
15
countries have experienced a total or partial Internet shutdown since January 2025
Since January 2025, the world’s population has lost a total of
21,807 hours
of access to the Internet due to intentional disruptions.
Over the past 12 months, we estimate that
US $94,034,541
has been lost in combined GDP across all countries that have experienced Internet shutdowns
Shutdowns
August 2024
919 shutdowns
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Past
National shutdown
Iraq authorities ordered Internet services to be suspended again on the morning of 31 August 2024, between 6:00 and 8:00 local time (+3 UTC). The shutdown follows an announcement by Iraq's Ministry of Communication on 28 August 2024 stating that they will enact the Ministry of Education's request to order Internet shutdowns on exam days as part of its efforts to prevent cheating. The national shutdown comes two days after a similar regional shutdown in the Kurdistan region. 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 ordered more than 40 Internet shutdowns last year and more than 30 so far this year, all of which were related to exams either in wider Iraq or in the Kurdistan region.
Iraq
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 2 hours
-
Past
National shutdown
Iraq authorities ordered Internet services to be suspended again on the morning of 29 August 2024, between 6:00 and 8:00 local time (+3 UTC). The shutdown follows an announcement by Iraq's Ministry of Communication on 28 August 2024 stating that they will enact the Ministry of Education's request to order Internet shutdowns on exam days as part of its efforts to prevent cheating. The national shutdown comes two days after a similar regional shutdown in the Kurdistan region. 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 ordered more than 40 Internet shutdowns last year and more than 30 so far this year, all of which were related to exams either in wider Iraq or in the Kurdistan region.
Iraq
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 2 hours
-
Past
Regional shutdown
Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan regional authorities ordered Internet services to be suspended again on the morning of 28 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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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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