Internet Blackouts Surpass All-Time High in 2024
In brief
- Internet shutdowns hit a record high in 2024 with 304 documented cases across 54 countries.
- This number marks the highest level ever recorded and shows a growing trend of governments using internet disruptions as a tool for control.
- These shutdowns often happen during protests or times of unrest, cutting people off from news, work, and essential services.
- In places like Iran and Gaza, internet access has been unreliable for months.
- In India, internet shutdowns and slowing down of connections have become common during protests.
- These actions are not just temporary measures but part of a larger strategy by governments to shape what people can see and share online.
- The pattern began with early examples like Egypt’s 2011 shutdown but has since evolved into a more permanent system of control.
- What happens next will depend on how governments and activists respond.
- Watch for changes in international pressure and new tools that help people stay connected despite shutdowns.
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