Internet shutdown tracker
Undemocratic governments around the world are increasingly turning to internet blackouts and social media censorship to maintain their rule. They use it to prevent the dissemination of information and to impede organizational efforts.
In partnership with
5,861,630,751
Total users deprived of internet access to date
77
Total countries that have disrupted access to date
Where has the internet been restricted?
China
There is no evidence of internet disruptions in means of censorship.
China
Internet services have been restricted at least 4 times in the past.
Average Duration:
3024 d
China
Social media and/or VoIP has been disrupted at least 4 times in the past.
Average Duration:
3024 d
China
Social media and/or VoIP apps that are currently restricted: Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Instagram, Telegram, Whatsapp.
Continental statistics
We have sorted the internet and social media disruptions by continent for easier viewing
Asia
India and its administered Jammu and Kashmir account for the majority (almost 75%) of internet censorship cases in Asia; the cases are related to protests, elections, and other political turmoil.
Cases of disruptions: 580
Out of which due to:
Protests
187
Elections
31
Political turmoil
351
Internet law
11
No evidence
No. of countries
17
% of the continent
34.7%
Disrupted internet services in the past
No. of countries
32
Part of all continent countries
65.3%
Currently restricting social media or VoIP
No. of countries
15
Part of all continent countries
30.6%
Restricted social media or VoIP in the past
No. of countries
28
% of the continent
57.1%
Internet connection disrupted in the past
No. of countries
19
Part of all continent countries
38.8%
Affected people
No. of people
4,281,039,091
% of the continent
90.2%
Europe
Most European internet censorship cases were registered in autocratic countries. Russia accounts for 60% - and Belarus for 27% - of all registered internet censorship cases.
Cases of disruptions: 15
Out of which due to:
Protests
6
Elections
3
Political turmoil
4
Internet law
2
No evidence
No. of countries
40
% of the continent
90.9%
Disrupted internet services in the past
No. of countries
4
Part of all continent countries
9.1%
Currently restricting social media or VoIP
No. of countries
2
Part of all continent countries
4.5%
Restricted social media or VoIP in the past
No. of countries
4
% of the continent
9.1%
Internet connection disrupted in the past
No. of countries
2
Part of all continent countries
4.5%
Affected people
No. of people
190,910,050
% of the continent
25.8%
North America
North America ranks 2nd as the continent with the fewest countries (2 out of 23) affected by internet censorship. Cuba accounts for 89% in the continent.
Cases of disruptions: 9
Out of which due to:
Protests
9
Elections
0
Political turmoil
0
Internet law
0
No evidence
No. of countries
21
% of the continent
91.3%
Disrupted internet services in the past
No. of countries
2
Part of all continent countries
8.7%
Currently restricting social media or VoIP
No. of countries
0
Part of all continent countries
0%
Restricted social media or VoIP in the past
No. of countries
1
% of the continent
4.3%
Internet connection disrupted in the past
No. of countries
2
Part of all continent countries
8.7%
Affected people
No. of people
11,258,797
% of the continent
1.9%
South America
Governments of South America’s most populous nations tend to control internet access more often. 40% of SA countries imposed online censorship, but if we’re talking about the number of people affected, those restrictions affected 60% of the continental population.
Cases of disruptions: 42
Out of which due to:
Protests
7
Elections
0
Political turmoil
31
Internet law
4
No evidence
No. of countries
7
% of the continent
58.3%
Disrupted internet services in the past
No. of countries
5
Part of all continent countries
41.7%
Currently restricting social media or VoIP
No. of countries
0
Part of all continent countries
0%
Restricted social media or VoIP in the past
No. of countries
4
% of the continent
33.3%
Internet connection disrupted in the past
No. of countries
3
Part of all continent countries
25%
Affected people
No. of people
265,467,823
% of the continent
60.6%
Oceania
Even though threats were made, there is no evidence of countries in Oceania ever restricting internet services due to protests, elections, or other political turmoil.
Cases of disruptions: 0
Out of which due to:
Protests
0
Elections
0
Political turmoil
0
Internet law
0
No evidence
No. of countries
14
% of the continent
100%
Disrupted internet services in the past
No. of countries
0
Part of all continent countries
0%
Currently restricting social media or VoIP
No. of countries
0
Part of all continent countries
0%
Restricted social media or VoIP in the past
No. of countries
0
% of the continent
0%
Internet connection disrupted in the past
No. of countries
0
Part of all continent countries
0%
Affected people
No. of people
0
% of the continent
0%
Find a country profile
Search for a country to find out whether it has faced internet shutdowns
Continental ranking based on disruptions: 12th
Cases of disruptions:4
Out of which due to:
1
Protests
N/A
Elections
3
Political turmoil
N/A
Internet law
Currently restricted social media platforms
2009, July
2009, July
youtube
2009, July
2016, September
telegram
2016, July
2017, September
Insights
More than 2/3 of all Asian countries have had limited access to the internet in the past for reasons ranging from total Western social media shutdowns to blocking YouTube because of leaked sexual footage involving local politicians.
African countries block access to social media the most (34 countries), especially amid political turmoil or elections. 1/3 of African countries have restricted access to internet services because of elections.
While South America doesn’t have many recorded cases of internet restrictions, Venezuela has blocked social media at least 18 times in 2019, every time acting president Juan Guaido was airing a speech online.
India remains the largest internet shutdown offender, with some of its internet blockages lasting for months in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.
Recent news
Iran
May 19, 2023
Disruption to internet connectivity in Zahedan. The incident is the latest in a series of regional internet shutdowns targeting weekly anti-government protests during Friday prayers.
Source
Guinea
May 17, 2023
Many of the most popular social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, were restricted across the country. The incident came as citizens prepared to take the streets for anti-government demonstrations.
Source
Pakistan
May 10, 2023
In addition to other social media platforms blocked a day earlier, some Instagram servers have also become unreachable. The incident is part of internet restrictions placed amid the arrest of former PM Imran Khan.
SourcePakistan
May 9, 2023
In addition to social media restrictions, internet disruptions have also been observed across Pakistan. The incident is part of internet restrictions placed amid the arrest of former PM Imran Khan.
Source