Internet Shutdowns
Who Shuts Down the Internet the Most?
Based on 947 shutdowns we've tracked since 2018
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438 -
167 -
73 -
47 -
18 -
17 -
17 -
14 -
11 -
10
- Africa
- Americas
- Asia
- Europe
- Oceania
Ongoing
13
ongoing shutdowns around the world
104
Internet shutdowns around the world since June 2025
14
countries have experienced a total or partial Internet shutdown since June 2025
30,312 hours
of Internet access have been lost by the the world’s population since June 2025, due to intentional disruptions.
Shutdowns
August 2024
947 shutdowns
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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Past
National shutdown
On 13 August, Internet services were again disrupted in Mauritania from 8:00-12:00 UTC. This follows two disruptions the day before all of which are coinciding with baccalaureate exams happening this week in the country. These recent shutdowns comes less than a month after Internet services were restored after a 23 day national Internet shutdown following post-election protests.
Mauritania
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 4 hours
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Past
National shutdown
Internet services were disrupted twice in Mauritania on 12 August from 8:00-12:00 UTC and 15:00-19:00 UTC. The disruption coincided with baccalaureate exams happening that day. This recent shutdown comes less than a month after Internet services were restored after a 23 day national Internet shutdown following post-election protests.
Mauritania
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 11 hours
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