UPDATED:November 12, 2024
Internet shutdown tracker
Undemocratic governments can disrupt their countries’ network connection and social media access as a means to silence the public in times of political unrest. The Internet Shutdown Tracker unmasks the countries guilty of taking these measures according to internet watchdog NetBlocks and other media and NGO reports. The study includes cases that occurred from 2015 onwards.
In partnership with
5,979,158,207
Total users deprived of internet access to date
82
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
A least 4 times internet disruptions were recorded in the past.
Average Duration:
3562 d
China
Social media and/messaging apps have been disrupted at least 4 times in the past.
Average Duration:
3562 d
China
Social media/messaging apps that are currently restricted: Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Instagram, Telegram, Whatsapp.
Regional statistics
We have sorted internet shutdowns (including both network connection disruptions and social media/messaging app disruptions) by region for easier viewing.
Africa
Africa is the second most intensive region by internet shutdowns. 8 out of 10 Africans have been hit by internet shutdowns since 2015.
Cases of disruptions since 2015: 134
Out of which due to:
Protests
69
Elections
31
Other political turmoil
33
Internet law
1
No evidence
No. of countries
16
% of the continent
29.6%
Any type of disruption in the past
No. of countries
38
Part of all continent countries
70.4%
Currently restricting social media/messaging apps
No. of countries
8
Part of all continent countries
14.8%
Social media/messaging apps disrupted in the past
No. of countries
27
% of the continent
50%
Network connection disrupted in the past
No. of countries
31
Part of all continent countries
57.4%
Affected people
No. of people
1,203,074,810
% of the continent
83.6%
Asia
Asia leads the world in internet shutdowns, with 9 out of 10 Asians having been affected since 2015. India and its administered Jammu and Kashmir account for the majority (more than 71%) of internet censorship cases in Asia.
Cases of disruptions since 2015: 644
Out of which due to:
Protests
224
Elections
34
Other political turmoil
373
Internet law
13
No evidence
No. of countries
17
% of the continent
34.7%
Any type of disruption in the past
No. of countries
32
Part of all continent countries
65.3%
Currently restricting social media/messaging apps
No. of countries
17
Part of all continent countries
34.7%
Social media/messaging apps disrupted in the past
No. of countries
28
% of the continent
57.1%
Network connection disrupted in the past
No. of countries
20
Part of all continent countries
40.8%
Affected people
No. of people
4,302,097,738
% of the continent
90.7%
Europe
Most European countries haven’t been hit by internet shutdowns since 2015. Russia accounts for 65%, while Belarus accounts for 24%.
Cases of disruptions since 2015: 17
Out of which due to:
Protests
6
Elections
3
Other political turmoil
5
Internet law
3
No evidence
No. of countries
40
% of the continent
90.9%
Any type of disruption in the past
No. of countries
4
Part of all continent countries
9.1%
Currently restricting social media/messaging apps
No. of countries
2
Part of all continent countries
4.5%
Social media/messaging apps disrupted in the past
No. of countries
4
% of the continent
9.1%
Network 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
3 out of 23 North American countries have had internet shutdowns since 2015. Cuba accounts for 73% in the continent.
Cases of disruptions since 2015: 11
Out of which due to:
Protests
9
Elections
0
Other political turmoil
2
Internet law
0
No evidence
No. of countries
20
% of the continent
87%
Any type of disruption in the past
No. of countries
3
Part of all continent countries
13%
Currently restricting social media/messaging apps
No. of countries
0
Part of all continent countries
0%
Social media/messaging apps disrupted in the past
No. of countries
2
% of the continent
8.7%
Network connection disrupted in the past
No. of countries
2
Part of all continent countries
8.7%
Affected people
No. of people
17,607,786
% of the continent
2.9%
South America
40% of South American countries have imposed internet shutdowns since 2015. These shutdowns affected 60% of the region's population.
Cases of disruptions since 2015: 45
Out of which due to:
Protests
7
Elections
1
Other political turmoil
32
Internet law
5
No evidence
No. of countries
7
% of the continent
58.3%
Any type of disruption in the past
No. of countries
5
Part of all continent countries
41.7%
Currently restricting social media/messaging apps
No. of countries
0
Part of all continent countries
0%
Social media/messaging apps disrupted in the past
No. of countries
4
% of the continent
33.3%
Network 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
Oceania is the only region in the world with no evidence of internet shutdowns since 2015.
Cases of disruptions since 2015: 0
Out of which due to:
Protests
0
Elections
0
Other political turmoil
0
Internet law
0
No evidence
No. of countries
14
% of the continent
100%
Any type of disruption in the past
No. of countries
0
Part of all continent countries
0%
Currently restricting social media/messaging apps
No. of countries
0
Part of all continent countries
0%
Social media/messaging apps disrupted in the past
No. of countries
0
% of the continent
0%
Network 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 if it has faced internet shutdowns
Regional ranking by disruptions: 13th in Asia
Cases of disruptions since 2015: 4
Out of which due to:
1
Protests
N/A
Elections
3
Other political turmoil
N/A
Internet law
Currently restricting social media platforms
2009, July
X (formerly Twitter)
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
Kenya
November 8, 2024
Metrics show that Telegram has been restricted in #Kenya, corroborating user reports of disruption; the measure comes as students sit KCSE exams and is consistent with past restrictions of Telegram observed in the country as a measure to limit cheating during exams
Source
Mozambique
November 7, 2024
Metrics show internet has been cut in Mozambique for a 5th day as authorities crack down on the March on Maputo movement; a series of curfew-style internet shutdowns and social media restrictions have limited the visibility of opposition protests over election results
SourceMozambique
November 6, 2024
Traffic data indicate Mozambique is now in the fourth day of curfew-style mobile internet blackouts. The shutdown follows protests over disputed election results, and is the latest in a series of mass-censorship measures imposed by the government
SourceMozambique
November 5, 2024
Traffic data indicate Mozambique is now in the third day of curfew-style mobile internet blackouts. The shutdown follows protests over disputed election results, and is the latest in a series of mass-censorship measures imposed by the government
Source