Algeria
Access to social media networks, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and WhatsApp, as well as several websites were reportedly blocked for the duration of the baccalaureate exams.
The disruption was not officially announced, nor has an explanation been given for it. The country had in previous years cut social media access during high school exams, with the state-run Internet service provider, Telecom Algeria, alerting customers of the suspension.
OONI data collected from Algeria provides signals that appear to corroborate these reported blocks.
The following chart aggregates OONI measurement coverage from the testing of WhatsApp in Algeria between 10th to 25th June 2019.
Chart: OONI Probe testing of WhatsApp in Algeria between 10th to 25th June 2019 (source: OONI MAT).
As is evident, the testing of WhatsApp presented anomalies between 16th to 18th June 2019, which coincides with the timing of the reported block. OONI measurements suggest that the potential blocking of WhatsApp was temporary each day, as (for example) the measurements collected on 16th June 2019 only presented anomalies between 11:12 UTC to 12:09 UTC – all of which are observed on Telecom Algeria (AS36947).
A measurement breakdown by ASN shows that the testing of WhatsApp did not present anomalies on all tested networks.
Chart: ASNs that received WhatsApp testing coverage in Algeria between 10th to 25th June 2019 (source: OONI MAT).
Quite similarly, OONI data shows that the testing of Facebook Messenger in Algeria presented anomalies between 14th to 19th June 2019.
Chart: ASNs that received Facebook Messenger testing coverage in Algeria between 10th to 25th June 2019 (source: OONI MAT).
From the above measurement breakdown per ASN, we can see that the testing of Facebook Messenger consistently presented anomalies on Wataniya Telecom (AS33779) between 14th to 19th June 2019, suggesting blocking. However, Facebook Messenger was found reachable when tested on Optimum Telecom (AS327931) on 16th and 17th June 2019 (dates of reported block).
The following chart aggregates OONI measurement coverage from the testing of the Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram websites in Algeria between 10th to 25th June 2019.
Chart: OONI Probe testing of the Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram websites in Algeria between 10th to 25th June 2019 (source: OONI MAT).
While the testing of Twitter presented many anomalies on Telecom Algeria (AS36947) on 16th June 2019 (the date of the reported block), the Facebook and Instagram websites were found accessible on the same network that day. However, the testing of facebook.com presented a few anomalies on Telecom Algeria (AS36947) on 17th and 19th June 2019.