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Lesson 12 min 20 XP

Internet Shutdowns

When and why governments deliberately disable internet access, and the legal and human consequences.

The Blackout Epidemic

Internet shutdowns, deliberate disruptions of internet or electronic communications by governments, have become a standard tool of authoritarian control. Access Now documented over 280 shutdowns in 2023, affecting dozens of countries. India alone accounted for the largest share, imposing shutdowns in Kashmir and other regions during protests, exams, and religious tensions. Myanmar imposed near-total internet blackouts during the military coup. Iran shut down the internet during the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests. Ethiopia, Sudan, and Tanzania have all used shutdowns during political crises.

Shutdowns vary in scope: total blackouts disable all connectivity, while throttling reduces speeds to unusable levels. Some shutdowns target specific platforms (social media) while leaving other services functional. Governments increasingly use sophisticated approaches: blocking VPNs, disabling HTTPS to enable content monitoring, and targeting specific communication apps like WhatsApp or Telegram.