Digital rights groups fear an increase in global internet shutdowns in 2024 could threaten basic rights in a super election year. NITA BHALLA of the Thomson Reuters Foundation reports…
Nairobi, Kenya
Thomson Reuters Foundation
Millions of people, from Pakistani voters to families forced to flee Sudan’s civil war, have been plunged into digital darkness in the first two months of 2024 as governments and others enforced internet shutdowns.
In a bumper year for elections, digital rights activists fear more blackouts as governments or other powerful forces try to control what people do or see online.
Supporters of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), an alliance of political parties they call the GDA, gathered for a sit-in protest. election Manipulate and demand generally free and fair results electionDrive along the main highway of Jamshoro, Pakistan 16th February 2024. The U.S. State Department and others have expressed concern about reports of restrictions on free speech in Pakistan, including partial or total government shutdowns of the internet.Photo: Reuters/Yasir Rajput/File Photo
Here’s a look at where and why internet shutdowns are happening, along with predictions for the year ahead.
Where will internet shutdowns be most common in 2024?
According to the Internet Society, a global charity, 13 internet shutdowns have occurred in the first two months of 2024, compared with two in the same period last year.
According to the Internet Society, a global charity, 13 internet shutdowns have occurred in the first two months of 2024, compared with two in the same period last year.
Digital outages affect India, Pakistan, war-torn Sudan, Senegal, Comoros and Chad.
Regional authorities in the Indian states of West Bengal, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan suspended internet services for a variety of reasons, which they said included quelling violence and preventing cheating in civil service exams.
Why are governments shutting down the internet?
Governments often say they shut down the internet to maintain public order, prevent the spread of misinformation that could incite violence, safeguard national security or ensure the integrity of exams or sensitive events.
Some governments have also said in the past that internet shutdowns are needed to combat terrorism, protect against cyber threats or enforce regulations related to content moderation or illegal activity online.
However, digital rights activists say the real reasons often include the desire to stifle dissent, stifle dissent and control the flow of information – all of which can undermine fundamental rights such as free speech and access to information.
In Senegal, authorities said they cut off mobile data access in February to curb the spread of “hateful and subversive information” after people took to the streets to protest against postponed presidential elections.
In Pakistan, authorities ordered the suspension of mobile internet and phone services during the February 8 presidential and national elections due to security reasons.
While most shutdowns are imposed by governments, in Sudan, internet outages were blamed on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which have been fighting the army for nearly a year in a civil war that has killed thousands and displaced nearly eight million. , and triggered warnings of famine.
Industry sources said Médecins Sans Frontières soldiers said they would cause blackouts unless engineers restored services in the West Darfur region, which is controlled by Médecins Sans Frontières and has been cut off from the internet for months. Doctors Without Borders has denied the accusations.
On April 30, 2023, during the conflict in Khartoum, Sudan, Heba sat on the roof of her home and checked her phone for news about relatives. Photo: Reuters/El Tayeb Siddig
How do internet shutdowns affect people and the economy?
Internet shutdowns have disrupted important communication channels, caused separation anxiety, and hindered access to essential services such as health care and education. Businesses also suffered losses as service platforms and payment systems were paralyzed.
This impact is particularly severe in situations of conflict or emergency. In Sudan, power outages have hampered aid deliveries and left millions of desperate people isolated, unable to buy vital items using the e-wallets that most people now rely on due to widespread cash shortages.
Internet shutdowns also limit access to information and promote a culture of fear and censorship. In Senegal, internet advocacy watchdog Access Now said blackouts could promote the spread of misinformation.
In the northern Indian state of Haryana, the internet was shut down after farmers protested, meaning children taking online classes were unable to study, exams were postponed and medical staff were unable to quickly respond to emergencies.
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How are people trying to circumvent these blackouts?
Citizens have tried to get around internet shutdowns by adapting to restrictions and finding other ways to stay connected.
A common method that Nigeria and Uganda have used during social media shutdowns in the past is to use virtual private networks, which encrypt internet traffic and reroute it through servers in other countries, thereby bypassing restrictions.
Additionally, some people in India use the free software Tor to anonymize internet activity by routing it through a decentralized network of volunteer-run servers.
In Sudan, people access the Internet through satellite connections or foreign SIM cards. Doctors Without Borders is also reportedly using Elon Musk’s Starlink service.
In India, offline communication methods such as mesh networking, which enables devices to connect directly to each other without relying on centralized infrastructure, are growing in popularity in areas where the internet is prone to shutdowns.
However, no matter what workarounds people find, they are likely to eventually run into new restrictions, as governments often respond with more sophisticated censorship techniques.
Are we likely to see more digital disruption in 2024?
According to the Internet Society, there were 124 cases of internet shutdowns last year, and digital rights activists predict that this number may increase in 2024, mainly due to the higher number of elections scheduled around the world.
At least 64 countries will hold national elections to elect representatives representing nearly half of the world’s population.
The risk of internet shutdowns rises during elections as officials try to control access to information, often saying they need to stem the spread of social unrest, fake news and hate speech.
Of the countries holding votes this year, 24 have imposed lockdowns in the past, with a combined population of 2.8 billion. These countries include India, Mozambique, Venezuela, South Sudan and Chad.
“With billions of people at risk of shutdowns during the election cycle alone in 2024, the stakes for democracy and human rights are higher than ever this year,” Access Now said on its website..