UPDATED
February 20, 2023
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
5,698,928,565
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:
2933 d
China
Social media and/or VoIP has been disrupted at least 4 times in the past.
Average Duration:
2933 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 76%) of internet censorship cases in Asia; the cases are related to protests, elections, and other political turmoil.
Cases of disruptions: 537
Out of which due to:
Protests
170
Elections
30
Political turmoil
326
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
14
Part of all continent countries
28.6%
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
4,198,480,242
% of the continent
90.3%
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
199,745,613
% of the continent
26.7%
North America
North America ranks 2nd as the continent with the fewest countries (2 out of 23) affected by internet censorship. Cuba accounts for 88% in the continent.
Cases of disruptions: 8
Out of which due to:
Protests
8
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
11,381,616
% 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: 41
Out of which due to:
Protests
7
Elections
0
Political turmoil
34
Internet law
0
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
261,617,920
% of the continent
60.8%
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
Suriname
February 17, 2023
Social media and messaging platforms Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger were restricted in Suriname amid protests over the rising cost of living as protesters stormed the National Assembly.
Source
Tanzania
February 15, 2023
Clubhouse, a social audio platform frequently used by activists and the diaspora, was restricted on multiple internet providers for a day.
Source
Ethiopia
February 10, 2023
YouTube has also been restricted following protests and deadly violence over an apparent state attempt to divide the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
SourceEthiopia
February 9, 2023
Facebook, Telegram and TikTok restricted amid protests over the split of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewhado Church.
Source