Internet Shutdowns

Global view of Internet shutdowns

Based on 959 shutdowns we've tracked since 2019. To learn more about how we define, measure, and verify shutdowns, go to the shutdown methodology.

Shutdowns are a critical threat to the Internet

An Internet shutdown is an intentional disruption of Internet or electronic communications, often ordered by governments to control information flow. They are a harmful and disproportionate response to complex issues. The United Nations considers cutting users off from Internet access to be a violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Governments often cite multiple reasons for shutdowns, such as maintaining social peace, responding to security, fighting fake news, and preventing cheating in exams. There is no evidence that shutdowns are effective at achieving their goals. Instead, they weaken users’ trust in digital services, damage the economy, deter foreign investment, and undermine human rights.

Despite this, as of 17 August 2026 there are currently 11 ongoing shutdowns. There have been 75 total or partial shutdowns across 10 countries since August 2025, resulting in a loss of 18,639 hours of access to the Internet due to intentional disruptions. Read our policy brief to learn more about our position, or explore shutdown trends and analysis on the Pulse blog.

Ongoing Internet shutdowns Permanent link

How we verify Internet Shutdowns

View details

We started tracking Internet shutdowns in 2019, and to date, we’ve tracked 959. There have been Internet shutdowns in a total of 61 countries since we started tracking, with a median duration of 8 hours. The latest country to experience a shutdown for the first time is Afghanistan. Asia is the region with the highest number of shutdowns over time. The most common shutdown trigger over the past 12 months is Exams, and of all time is Government Action.

One trend that is hard to see in the data set itself is the growth in regional and hyper-localized shutdown events. These are difficult to capture and track using traditional Internet measurement tools. For these, we rely more heavily on reports from trusted partners and media outlets. If you’re aware of a shutdown that we seem to be missing in our dataset, contact the Pulse team.

You can download the dataset or use the Pulse API.

Compare shutdowns between countries and across regions

Region

Total number of hours is cumulative, and includes all national and regional shutdowns.

Run an Internet impact assessment

Explore resources and activities to stop shutdowns and help governments commit to an open, unrestricted Internet.

Go to impact assessment toolkit

Explore shutdown stories on the Pulse blog

Find reports, trends, analysis, and opinion pieces by our team and guest authors from around the world on the Internet Society Pulse blog.

Read the Pulse blog

Read and share the Internet Society’s position paper

Learn more about the negative impact of Internet shutdowns on economies, people, and on the interconnected Internet itself, and what we advocate for instead.

Read the policy brief

All tracked shutdowns Permanent link

Download the dataset
Country Start date Verification level Shutdown reach Cause Affected services Duration
India 29 August 2020 Acknowledged Regional shutdown Government Action - 1 day
India 28 August 2020 Acknowledged Regional shutdown Government Action - 1 day
Syria 27 August 2020 Acknowledged National shutdown Exams Internet Services 8 hours
Belarus 26 August 2020 Confirmed Regional shutdown Protests - 1 hour
Syria 26 August 2020 Acknowledged National shutdown Exams Internet Services 8 hours
Syria 25 August 2020 Acknowledged National shutdown Exams Internet Services 8 hours
Syria 24 August 2020 Acknowledged National shutdown Exams Internet Services 8 hours
Syria 23 August 2020 Acknowledged National shutdown Exams Internet Services 4 hours
Syria 22 August 2020 Acknowledged National shutdown Exams Internet Services 4 hours
India 22 August 2020 Acknowledged Regional shutdown Government Action - 0 minutes
India 19 August 2020 Acknowledged Regional shutdown Government Action - 1 day
Yemen 19 August 2020 Unconfirmed Regional shutdown War/Conflict Internet Services 4 hours
Belarus 17 August 2020 Confirmed National shutdown Protests - 45 minutes
India 17 August 2020 Acknowledged Regional shutdown Government Action - 1 day
India 15 August 2020 Unconfirmed Regional shutdown Government Action Mobile Internet Services 12 hours
Iraq 12 August 2020 Confirmed Regional shutdown Protests - 3 hours
Belarus 9 August 2020 Confirmed National shutdown Elections Internet Services 3 days
Yemen 7 August 2020 Unconfirmed Regional shutdown War/Conflict Mobile Internet Services 426 days
India 7 August 2020 Acknowledged Regional shutdown Government Action Mobile Internet Services 0 minutes
Chad 22 July 2020 Unconfirmed National shutdown Government Action - 27 days
Yemen 22 July 2020 Unconfirmed Regional shutdown War/Conflict Internet Services, Mobile Internet Services 266 days
India 18 July 2020 Acknowledged Regional shutdown Government Action - 1 day
India 17 July 2020 Acknowledged Regional shutdown Government Action Mobile Internet Services 1 day
Pakistan 13 July 2020 Confirmed Regional shutdown War/Conflict - 2 hours
India 13 July 2020 Acknowledged Regional shutdown Government Action Mobile Internet Services 0 minutes