Region: Pakistan

Since the beginning of 2023, governments around the world are discovering new reasons to disrupt internet access during key national moments.

قامت 11 دولة في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا بفرض عمليات حجب للإنترنت في 37 مناسبة، حيث تصدّرت إيران هذه القائمة من خلال قطعها للإنترنت 18 مرة.

In 2022, authorities across the Middle East and North Africa shutdown the internet 37 times — with Iran hitting the kill switch a staggering 18 times.

In 2022, India shut down the internet at least 84 times — more than any country, for the fifth consecutive year. Read “Weapons of control, shields of impunity: Internet shutdowns in 2022.”

With support from the #KeepItOn coalition, Jigsaw is today publishing “The Current: The Internet Shutdowns Issue,” a deep-dive into internet shutdowns.

In this post, we cover facts and figures on the most recent shutdowns so far in 2021, emerging trends for these disruptions, and information on key #KeepItOn coalition projects this year.

On September 24 at 10:00 am UTC, join our webinar to hear from experts from media, education, health, technology, and civil society about the innovative strategies they are using to fight internet shutdowns during COVID-19, elections, and protests.

There is no excuse for internet shutdowns during a global pandemic, but governments keep ordering them. Join the #KeepItOn coalition in calling for an end to shutdowns globally.