Governments increasingly resorting to internet shutdowns.




Over the last two years; there have been at least 300 internet shutdowns in more than 54 countries, severely restricting people’s access to information, according to UNESCO.The shutdowns can take different forms, such as a complete block on Internet or the blocking of access to social media platforms. The first major shutdown happened in Egypt in 2011, during the Tahrir Square protests. Hundreds of arrests and killings followed. Iran has been under an internet shutdown for 66 days, cutting access for 90 million people and threatening access to information.
2024 was the worst year on record for internet shutdowns since 2016.
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