Apr 29, 2022
By: Rahul VermaAccording to a report released by digital rights advocacy group Access Now, India saw the highest number of internet shutdowns for reasons ranging from curbing protests to counter-terrorism.
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Data states that governments across the world imposed 182 Internet shutdowns in 34 countries. This is a slight pickup when compared to 159 shutdowns in 29 countries in 2020. Go through the list of countries with internet shutdowns in the next slides.
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India imposed 106 internet shutdowns in 2021. As per the report, out of 106 shutdowns, 85 were alone reported in Jammu and Kashmir.
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Myanmar imposed the second-highest 15 internet shutdowns. Military seizure and ongoing political conflict are likely to be reasons for internet shutdowns.
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Both of the countries shut down the internet 5 times, the highest number of shutdowns in the Middle-east region. The majority of internet shutdowns took place to quell protests.
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Cuba saw 4 internet shutdowns amid growing protests and demands for government reform. Jordan cut the internet to stop students from cheating in exams and to stop escalations in military activities.
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Ethiopia saw 3 internet shutdowns to restrict ongoing civil war, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing. Because of civil unrest, Uganda went through 3 internet shutdowns in 2021.
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The internet shutdowns affected the education, healthcare, and business opportunities for the already isolated local groups, during the pandemic.
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Because of the internet shutdown, the people of Kashmir valley had to spend another year with a shattered internet that affected business growth, education and healthcare system.
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