The #KeepItOn coalition brings together hundreds of civil society organizations and our allies from around the world – in government, international institutions, media, the private sector, and beyond – to fight for an end to internet shutdowns. To learn more, check out the #KeepItOn FAQ, listen to the Kill Switch podcast, and read our latest annual report.
INTERNET SHUTDOWNS UNDERMINE HUMAN RIGHTS
An internet shutdown is defined as “an intentional disruption of internet or electronic communications, rendering them inaccessible or effectively unusable, for a specific population or within a location, often to exert control over the flow of information.” They take many forms, from full network disruptions, to slowing down internet speed (“throttling”), to platform blocking.
Internet shutdowns are always an attack on human rights. When people are disconnected, it impacts all aspects of life — from work and education, to medical care and banking. Shutdowns block journalism, restrict free expression and community organizing, and prevent documentation of human rights abuses. During conflict and crisis, they stop people from accessing life-saving information and humanitarian aid.
→ Impact of shutdowns on:
DOCUMENTING SHUTDOWNS GLOBALLY
Together with partners in the #KeepItOn coalition, Access Now documents verified internet shutdowns in the Shutdowns Tracker Optimization Project (STOP) dataset. Beginning in 2016, STOP provides the most complete record of the scale, variety, and severity of shutdowns around the world, and we are continuously working to improve it.
Annual report: internet shutdowns in 2024
If you can’t see the highlights above, please check your privacy-enhancing browser extensions. Open in desktop view for the best experience.
EXPERIENCING A SHUTDOWN?
REPORT A SHUTDOWN
Detected a shutdown?
Email us at [email protected]
If you can, please include screenshots of offline pages, time and date of the shutdown, photos, or any other information you think would be helpful.
DIGITAL SECURITY TIPS
Here are some tips on how to safely prepare for and navigate an internet shutdown, get back online, and document shutdowns as they happen.
GET HELP
If you are a human rights defender, civil society organization, or journalist impacted by a shutdown or facing other digital threats, contact our Digital Security Helpline for 24/7 assistance to get back online.
FEATURED CAMPAIGNS
Help #KeepItOn in Annobón
On July 20, 2024, the government of Equatorial Guinea cut off mobile phone and internet services across the island of Annobón — plunging the country’s smallest province into a digital blackout that has continued throughout prolonged unrest and efforts to silence dissent. The government’s deliberate and ongoing refusal to restore connectivity is endangering lives, impeding people’s ability to document and report on human rights violations being committed on the island. Join the #KeepItOn coalition’s campaign to end the prolonged shutdown and reconnect Annobón.
ELECTION WATCH
Internet shutdowns undermine election integrity and democracy. Through our #KeepItOn Election Watch, we identify countries where there is a heightened risk of election-related shutdowns and advocate to keep people online.
Want to work with the #KeepItOn coalition to prevent an election shutdown in your country?
See our civil society guide for collaborating on elections-related advocacy.
English | Russian | French | Spanish | Arabic | Swahili
#Noexamshutdown
Together with SMEX and the Internet Society, we are mobilizing efforts to stop the systematic use of exam-related shutdowns to prevent cheating — urging authorities across the Middle East and North African region and elsewhere to find alternative, rights-respecting solutions that do not negatively impact entire populations.
explore more
See all the resources and latest updates on #KeepItOn campaign actions, publications, press coverage, and more.
WHO IS FIGHTING BACK
Access Now launched the #KeepItOn campaign in 2016 to mobilize people, communities, and civil society actors globally to fight against internet shutdowns. Today, it unites more than 345 national, international, regional, and local organizations in what has become the world’s leading coalition pushing for an end to internet shutdowns globally.
Our coalition comprises research centers, rights and advocacy groups, detection networks, and foundations and media organizations, among others. Together, we raise awareness about shutdowns and their impact, monitor and document shutdowns, support people and communities fighting shutdowns, and hold perpetrators to account. We work with diverse stakeholders including governments, regional and international bodies, industry leaders, journalists, researchers, and others to push back against shutdowns and establish rights-respecting norms. Membership is open to civil society organizations, and we encourage you to join us.
Acceso Libre
Access Now
ACI Participa
ACTION Coalition
ADISI-Cameroun
Advocacy Initiative for Development
AFEX
Afghan Independent Journalists Association
Afghanistan Journalists Center
Africa Cybersecurity & Digital Rights Organization (ACDRO)
African Freedom of Information Centre – AFIC
Africa Foundation for Community Development (AFCOD-Uganda)
Africa Open Data and Internet Research Foundation
Africans Rising
Africtivistes
AfroLeadership
Amnesty International
Arab World Internet Institute
ARTICLE 19
ARTICLE19 Eastern Africa
Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS)
Asociacion por los Derechos Civiles
Association Djiboutienne des Droits de l’Homme
Association for Progressive Communications
Asuntos del Sur
Baaroo
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
Bahrain Watch
Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communications
Bareedo Platform Somalia
Bits of Freedom
Bloggers Association of Kenya
Bloggers of Zambia
Blueprint for Free Speech
Body and Data
Bolo Bhi
Briar Project
Bytes for All
Ça Suffit
Cameroon Association of Media Professionals
Campaign for Human Rights and Development International
Center for Democracy and Technology
Center for Media Research Nepal
Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding
Centre for Internet and Society
CHRDA
CIPESA (The Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa)
CIPIT (Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law at Strathmore University)
Collectif #Sasouffit
Committee to Protect Journalists
Common Cause Zambia
Consortium of Ethiopian Rights Organizations
Cyber Arabs
DanChurchAid (DCA)
Đảng Việt Tân
Delhi Union of Journalists
Derechos Digitales
Digital Bridge Institute
Digital Defenders Partnership
Digital Grassroots
Digital Rights Foundation Pakistan
Digital Right Lawyers Initiative
Digital Rights Watch Australia
Digital Security Lab Ukraine
Digital Skills Coalition Belarus
Digital Society of Zimbabwe
Digital Woman Uganda
Digital Paradigm” PF
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Embajadores de Internet
EMPOWER
Engage Media
Enjambre Digital
EPIC
European Centre for Democracy and Human Rights
Eurasian Digital Foundation
Expression Now Human Rights Initiative
Feminism in India
Fight for the Future
Filipino Freethinkers
Foundation for Media Alternatives
Forus
Fundación Internet Bolivia
Free Expression Myanmar
Free Media Movement, Sri Lanka
Free Press
Free Press Unlimited
Freedom Forum Nepal
Freedom House
Freedom of Information Counsel
Freemuse
freenode
Front Line Defenders
Fundacion Via Libre
Fundacja ePaństwo
Gambia Press Union
GetUp!
Global Digital Inclusion Partnership Global Network Initiative
Global Voices
GNU Solidario
GreatFire
Gulf Center for Human Rights
Hack the Climate
Heliopolis Institute
Hiperderecho
Hivos
HRNJ-Uganda
Human Constanta
Human Rights Activists in Iran
Human Rights Centre
Human Rights Consulting Group (HRCG)
Human Rights Foundation
Human Rights Watch
Ideosync Media Combine
ifreedom Uganda
Index on Censorship
Indic project
Inidev International
Institute for Development of Freedom of Information
Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety
Institute for Media and Society
Instituto Prensa y Sociedad de Venezuela
International Federation of Journalists
International Media Support
International Modern Media Institute
International Press Centre
International Press Institute
International Service for Human Rights
Internet Freedom Foundation
Internet Lab
Internet Policy Observatory Pakistan
Internet Protection Society
Internet Sans Frontières
Internet Society
Internet Yetu
Internews
Ipandetec
IRADA
Iraqi Network for Social Media
IT for Change
ITS Rio
Iyina
Jamii Forum
Jhatkaa
Jordan Open Source Association
Journalist Association of Bhutan
KICTANet
Kijiji Yeetu
Kiwix
Korean Progressive Network Jinbonet Kuza STEAM
KrantiKali
Kuza STEAM Generation
La Quadrature du Net LAPLIH
Lebanese Cyberspace Association
Lesbian Gay and Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA Asia)
Liberia Information Technology Student Union
LIRNEasia
Localization Lab
Libyan Crimes Watch (LCW)
Maldives Journalists Association
Media Development Foundation Maldives
Media Foundation for West Africa
Media Institute of Southern Africa
The Media Legal Defence Initiative (MLDI)
Media Matters for Democracy
Media Rights Agenda
Miaan
Myanmar ICT for Development Organization (MIDO)
Namibia Media Trust
Nothing 2 Hide
Open Democracy Advice Centre
Open Knowledge International
Open Observatory of Network Interference
Open Secrets
Open State Foundation
Open Tech Fund
Open Technology Institute and Measurement Lab
OpenMedia
Pacific Freedom Forum
Paradigm Initiative Nigeria
PEN America
PEN Melbourne
PenPlusBytes
Pollicy
Press Union of Liberia
Projet d’action pour une Alternance Crédible au Tchad
Public Knowledge
R3D
Ranking Digital Rights
Reporters Sans Frontières
Réseau des Jeunes Bénévoles des Classiques en Sciences Sociales en Haiti
Réseau des Journalistes Burundais pour la CPI, (RJB-CPI)*
Réseau Ouest Africain des Défenseurs des Droits Humains (ROADDH) West African Human Rights Defenders Network
Right2Know
Ritimo
RNW Media
RosKomSvoboda
Rudi International
Sarawak Report
ShareAction
Sinar Project
Skyline for Human Rights
Small Media
Social Media Exchange
SocialTic
Software Freedom Law Centre
SonTusDatos
South Asia Media Solidarity Network
Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network
Sula Batsu
Sunlight Foundation
Swathanthra Malayalam Computing
Tech for Peace
Thai Netizen Network
The Bachchao Project
Tor
Trop C’est Trop
TVYangu
Ubunteam
Union of Tanzania Press Club
Unwanted Witness
Usuarios Digitales – Ecuador
Venezuela Inteligente
Voices for Interactive Choice and Empowerment (VOICE)
WAKE UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS / AFRICA SECTION
Webfala Digital Skills for all Initiative
Web Foundation
Wikimedia France
Wikimedia Foundation
WITNESS
Women in Information Technology
Women of Uganda Network Working
Woman Journalists Nepal
Xnet
Yemeni Observatory for Freedom
Yodet
Zaina Foundation
Key partners have included regional and international bodies, such as the UN, the European Union, the Freedom Online Coalition, the African Union, and the International Telecommunications Union, as well as internet service providers and digital communications platforms.
If your organization, institution, or company would like to become a campaign partner or friend of the coalition, reach out to #KeepItOn Campaign Manager Felicia Anthonio at [email protected].
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
#KeepItOn: Iran plunged into digital darkness, concealing human rights abuses
join the international community, including the UN’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission, in calling on Iran to immediately restore internet and mobile communications and in demanding accountability and transparency for the grave human rights violations documented in the country
#KeepItOn coalition raise the alarm on potential shutdown during upcoming elections in Uganda
As millions of people prepare to head to the polls in Uganda on January, 15 2026, Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition — a global network of over 345 organizations from 106 countries working to end internet shutdowns, has urged President Yoweri Museveni to ensure unfettered access to the internet, digital platforms, and all other communication channels on the run-up-to, during and post-elections.
#KeepItOn: Government of Uganda must ensure unrestricted internet access throughout the upcoming elections
Access Now appeals to you, President Yoweri Museveni, to ensure that people in Uganda have unfettered access to the internet, digital platforms, and all other communication channels throughout the upcoming elections on January 15, 2026
MTN Group must answer for dangerous bounty SMS campaign in the Republic of Congo
Access Now,together with several human rights organizations, are calling on MTN Group to protect mobile service subscribers and ensure transparency and accountability for data breaches perpetuated by their subsidiaries in the Republic of Congo.
Connectivity as a weapon of war: how internet shutdowns harm civilians in armed conflict
Access Now’s latest report, Internet shutdowns in armed conflict: a typology of harms, unpacks the serious harms that internet shutdowns inflict on civilian populations during armed conflict.
Internet shutdowns in armed conflict: a typology of harms
Our latest report, Internet shutdowns in armed conflict: a typology of harms, unpacks the serious harms that internet shutdowns inflict on civilian populations during armed conflict.
#KeepItOn: Tanzanian authorities and Meta must reverse course and respect human rights
Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition joins the international community in demanding accountability and transparency for the grave human rights violations documented in Tanzania during and after the October 29, 2025 elections, including allegations of hundreds of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and mass arbitrary detentions targeting protesters, opposition figures, and civil society.
#KeepItOn: Authorities in Nigeria must reconnect people in Zamfara North now
Access Now and the global #KeepItOn coalition are dismayed by reports of ongoing internet disruptions in Nigeria’s Zamfara North and demand that authorities immediately restore access across the senatorial district.
#KeepItOn: Authorities in Tanzania must commit to unrestricted access to the internet during elections
In an open letter to President Samia Suluhu, Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition are urging authorities in Tanzania to uphold human rights and ensure open and secure access to the internet and digital communications before, during, and after the upcoming elections on October 29, 2025, to guarantee a participatory and transparent electoral process.
#KeepItOn: Government of Tanzania must ensure unrestricted internet access throughout upcoming elections
We, the undersigned organizations and members of the #KeepItOn coalition — a global network of over 345 organizations from 106 countries working to end internet shutdowns — appeal to you, President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, to publicly commit to ensuring that people in the Republic of Tanzania have unfettered access to the internet, digital platforms, and all other communication channels throughout the upcoming elections on October 29, 2025.
All eyes on Cameroon: #KeepItOn during upcoming elections
We urge authorities in Cameroon to ensure reliable, continuous, open, and secure internet access before, during, and after the upcoming elections.
#KeepItOn: We urge authorities in Cameroon to safeguard open and secure internet access during elections
We urge President of the Republic of Cameroon to ensure that the internet remains open, secure, and accessible to all before, during, and after the country’s upcoming elections.
#KeepItOn: Time to end Sudan’s isolation; lift the WhatsApp block now
We, the undersigned civil society organisations and humanitarian actors, call on the international community to urgently address the physical and cyber threats people are experiencing in Sudan
#NoExamShutdown: lessons for the new academic year
Across the MENA region, governments are imposing internet shutdowns during student exams. Read our exam shutdown report card and join the call for governments to keep this academic year free of internet shutdowns.
#KeepItOn: Syrian government must restore internet access and respect rights in Suwayda
We call on the Syrian government to immediately and fully restore internet access and to ensure the protection of people’s rights in Suwayda.
#KeepItOn: Nepal’s Telegram ban is a dangerous escalation of digital censorship
Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition are alarmed by the Government of Nepal’s decision to ban the popular messaging application Telegram.
Learn more about the fight to end internet shutdowns
Resources for activists
Need creative assets for your campaign? Here is a CC4.0-licensed visual toolkit.
Contact us if you would like to contribute to the toolkit or help us localize it.
CONTACT
For media inquiries, contact [email protected]
Felicia Anthonio | #KeepItOn Campaign Manager | [email protected]
Zach Rosson | #KeepItOn Data and Research Lead | [email protected]