A new report by Access Now and the #KeepItOn campaign has found that a record number of countries enforced internet shutdowns in 2022, with devastating impacts on human lives. 35 countries were documented to have implemented 187 blackouts due to protests, active conflict, examinations, elections and political instability. India was the biggest offender, with 84 shutdowns, followed by Ukraine with 22 due to Russian military invasion and Iran with 18 during mass protests.
The report warned that the number of shutdowns is rising again after reaching a peak in 2019, and highlighted the immense human toll of conflict-related blackouts. These shutdowns hamper international humanitarian efforts, restrict access to life-saving information and deepen the gender digital divide. Governments are becoming more sophisticated in their implementation of shutdowns, targeting certain groups and forcing people onto alternative platforms and infrastructure where surveillance and censorship are easier to implement.
The authors of the report called on all stakeholders to do their part in upholding free expression and keeping people connected. They emphasised that internet access is a human right and that the fight against internet shutdowns will continue. They also noted that the consequences of disrupted internet access include lack of access to resources, inability to communicate with loved ones, difficulty sending or receiving news and conducting business.