Already 80 internet shutdowns worldwide since the beginning of the year
Governments in 21 countries have already imposed internet shutdowns this year. This is according to a new report from the organisation Access Now. The internet was often restricted in the wake of mass protests – but also in emergency situations such as natural disasters or war. People were cut off entirely from the internet or from individual services.
In cooperation with local partners, the organisation had already documented 80 internet shutdowns by 19 May, 18 of which began last year.
Felicia Anthonio, campaigner manager at Access Now explains: " Internet shutdowns are an attack on human rights. They are always dangerous, unjustified, and morally despicable." Governments would continue to cut off millions of people from the internet.
Some governments that already frequently implemented highly criticised measures in the past year also completely or partially restricted internet access in 2023.
Millions of people affected
The Indian government ordered more shutdowns in the past years than any other country. According to Access Now, there have been 33 internet shutdowns imposed there in 2023, distributed across 13 states. Occasionally, the internet was only blocked on a local level during protests or religious holidays.
In some cases, authorities also imposed comprehensive internet blocks: For example in the state of Punjab last March because police were searching for a separatist. Approximately 27 million people were affected by this measure that was extended multiple times.
Also in the state of Manipur, where about 2.9 million people live, the internet was comprehensively blocked in the beginning of May. Violent protests had been taking place there.
Iran regularly blocked access in connection with protests that broke out in the past year after the death of 22 year-old, Mahsa Amini. Since months, during weekly protests while Friday prayer occurred in the Sistan and Baluchestan province, mobile internet was blocked. The regime aimed to suppress critical voices and to cover up atrocities, the organisation criticises.
Furthermore, an internet shutdown was imposed in the country on 19 January during school exams. Access Now critises that doing so would not curb cheating on tests.
Restrictions remain in Tigray
In the Ethiopian region of Tigray, internet access has not been fully restored according to Access Now. In November 2020, a block was implemented there after an armed conflict between the government and the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front broke out. The peace agreement from November 2022 actually included restoring access to essential communications services. Telecommunications providers had begun repairing destroyed infrastructure but many people in the region, however, remain offline.
Additionally, the Ethiopian government blocked messenger services and social media nationwide in February. In the Amhara region, mobile internet was cut off in April.
According to Access Now, people are furthermore cut off from the internet during the Russian offensive war against Ukraine: Just like in the previous year, Russia deliberately destroyed telecommunications infrastructure in Ukraine – the population has suffered increasingly as a result.
Complicated relief measures
The organisation also criticises the effect of internet shutdowns in connection with natural disasters. In Myanmar, people could not have been warned of Cylone Mocha beforehand due to intentional internet shutdowns. Also evacuation and relief aid was complicated. In May, hundreds of people died because of the cyclone.
In Turkey, authorities blocked the short-message service Twitter for twelve hours after the devastating earthquakes in February. According to Access Now, the Twitter block was an attempt to silence the criticism of the government’s reaction to the earthquakes. However, rescue measures were also “considerably” complicated.
The organisation documented further internet shutdowns, for instance, in West African Guinea where social media was blocked in connection with protests. Pakistan also restricted the internet because of demonstrations. In Mauritania the mobile internet was cut off for six days after four inmates escaped from prison. Access Now calls this a “disproportionate, ineffective, and draconian response”.
Other states that imposed internet shutdowns in the past refrained from doing so during elections in 2023, including Benin, Nigeria and Kazakhstan.
Nevertheless, the organisation expects additional internet shutdowns throughout the year. For example, according to Access Now, the Iraqi Ministry of Communications still announced in May that the internet would not be restricted during final school exams – after the Minister of Education intervened, an internet shutdown for four hours per exam day was ordered.
Moreover, the government in Senegal initially blocked services like Twitter and WhatsApp in the past week when riots broke out there after the conviction of an opposition politician. According to the organisation NetBlocks, mobile internet has been cut off entirely for multiple hours a day since last weekend. (js)