Internet Shutdowns
Who Shuts Down the Internet the Most?
Based on 923 shutdowns we've tracked since 2018
-
432 -
160 -
73 -
37 -
18 -
17 -
17 -
14 -
11 -
10
- Africa
- Americas
- Asia
- Europe
- Oceania
Ongoing
13
ongoing shutdowns around the world
103
Internet shutdowns around the world since February 2025
14
countries have experienced a total or partial Internet shutdown since February 2025
Since February 2025, the world’s population has lost a total of
17,477 hours
of access to the Internet due to intentional disruptions.
Over the past 12 months, we estimate that
US $147,319,712
has been lost in combined GDP across all countries that have experienced Internet shutdowns
Shutdowns
September 2023
923 shutdowns
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Past
National shutdown
The government of Iraq is imposing daily Internet shutdowns during the second stage of middle/lower secondary school exams as part of its efforts to reduce cheating. The 3-hour shutdowns affect everyone in Iraq, except those in the Kurdistan region which had its own shutdowns as reported here. As we have repeatedly written about on Pulse, Internet shutdowns cause great harm to a country’s economy and society and are in our opinion NOT the appropriate mechanism to cope with potential exam cheating. It is the 41st Internet shutdown event in Iraq in 2023.
Iraq
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 3 hours
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Past
National shutdown
The government of Iraq is imposing daily Internet shutdowns during the second stage of middle/lower secondary school exams as part of its efforts to reduce cheating on 2 3 September 2023. The 3-hour shutdowns affect everyone in Iraq, except those in the Kurdistan region which had its own shutdowns as reported here. As we have repeatedly written about on Pulse, Internet shutdowns cause great harm to a country’s economy and society and are in our opinion NOT the appropriate mechanism to cope with potential exam cheating.
Iraq
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 3 hours
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Past
National shutdown
The government of Iraq is imposing daily Internet shutdowns during the second stage of middle/lower secondary school exams as part of its efforts to reduce cheating on 21 September 2023. The 3-hour shutdowns affect everyone in Iraq, except those in the Kurdistan region which had its own shutdowns as reported here. As we have repeatedly written about on Pulse, Internet shutdowns cause great harm to a country’s economy and society and are in our opinion NOT the appropriate mechanism to cope with potential exam cheating.
Iraq
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 3 hours
-
Past
National shutdown
The people of Iraq have experienced the third 3-hour Internet shutdown this week on 19 September 2023 as per local authorities strategy to impose daily Internet shutdowns during second stage of middle/lower secondary school exams to reduce chetaing. The shutdowns affect everyone in Iraq, except those living in the Kurdistan region which has its own shutdowns as reported here. This is the 40th Internet shutdown in Iraq in 2023. As we have repeatedly written about here on Pulse, Internet shutdowns cause great harm to a country’s economy and society and are in our opinion NOT the appropriate mechanism to cope with potential exam cheating.
Iraq
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 3 hours
-
Past
National shutdown
The government of Iraq is imposing daily Internet shutdowns during the second stage of middle/lower secondary school exams as part of its efforts to reduce cheating. The 3-hour shutdowns affect everyone in Iraq, except those in the Kurdistan region which had its own shutdowns as reported here. Today's shutdown (18 September) is visible on IODA graphs, Cloudflare Radar, and Google Transparency Report, as detailed in the graphs below. It is the 39 Internet shutdown event in Iraq in 2023. As we have repeatedly written about on Pulse, Internet shutdowns cause great harm to a country’s economy and society and are in our opinion NOT the appropriate mechanism to cope with potential exam cheating.
Iraq
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 3 hours
-
Past
National shutdown
The government of Iraq is imposing daily Internet shutdowns during the second stage of middle/lower secondary school exams as part of its efforts to reduce cheating. The 3-hour shutdowns affect everyone in Iraq, except those in the Kurdistan region which had its own shutdowns as reported here. Today's shutdown (17 September) is visible on IODA graphs, Cloudflare Radar, and Google Transparency Report, as detailed in the graphs below. It is the 38 Internet shutdown event in Iraq in 2023. As we have repeatedly written about on Pulse, Internet shutdowns cause great harm to a country’s economy and society and are in our opinion NOT the appropriate mechanism to cope with potential exam cheating.
Iraq
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 3 hours
-
Past
Regional shutdown
Mobile Internet
Haryana
Mobile Internet services were suspended in Nuh in the Haryana district on 15 September 2023 for four days after local authorities imposed a curfew under Section 144 following communal violence and to stop the spread of misinformation and rumours following the arrest of Congress MLA Mamman Khan. 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 4 days, 13 hours
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Past
Regional shutdown
Pusesawali village in Maharashtra's Satara district
Internet services were suspended in Pusesawali village in Maharashtra's Satara district for four days after local authorities imposed a curfew under Section 144 following communal violence in the village on 9 September 2023. 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 3 days
August 2023
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Past
National shutdown
Government of Iraq is imposing daily shutdowns during second stage of grade 9 school exams for the third day 29 August 2023. The 4 hour shutdowns of access to the Internet affects everyone in Iraq, except Kurdistan region which had its own shutdowns as reported here. The local government belief that this will reduce cheating during high school exams. We have repeatedly written about here on Pulse, Internet shutdowns cause great harm to a country’s economy and society and are in our opinion NOT the appropriate mechanism to cope with potential exam cheating.
Iraq
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 4 hours
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Past
National shutdown
Government of Iraq is imposing daily shutdowns during second stage of grade 9 school exams for the third day on 28 August 2023. The 4 hour shutdowns of access to the Internet affects everyone in Iraq, except Kurdistan region which had its own shutdowns as reported here. The local government belief that this will reduce cheating during high school exams. We have repeatedly written about here on Pulse, Internet shutdowns cause great harm to a country’s economy and society and are in our opinion NOT the appropriate mechanism to cope with potential exam cheating.
Iraq
- Start
- End
- Total Duration 4 hours
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