31 | RISING REPRESSION MEETS GLOBAL RESISTANCE: INTERNET SHUTDOWNS IN 2025 Middle East and North Africa Israel Israel continued to weaponize internet access during its unfolding genocide in Palestine,190 compounding the suffering of millions. In 2025, Israeli authorities imposed seven shutdowns as part of its military operation, severely restricting access to information and humanitarian assistance. Through unlawful blockade of fuel into Gaza,191 and the destruction of at least 74%192 of Gaza’s telecommunications’ structure including the deliberate disconnection of fiberoptic cables along Al-Rasheed street and the Khan Yunis route, connectivity was pushed to the brink of collapse by June 2025.193 Middle East and North Africa Sudan As the conflict escalates amid what is currently the world’s worst health and humanitarian crisis,194 warring parties have deliberately disrupted connectivity, often preventing access to alternative communication channels. There were three shutdowns in Sudan in 2025 during the ongoing conflict, including during school exams in July. Also in July, Sudan’s Telecommunications and Post Regulatory Authority imposed a nationwide block on WhatsApp voice and video calls, citing “national security concerns” and cutting off the last remaining lifelines allowing the Sudanese people to stay in touch with the outside world.195 In October, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensified attacks on civilians in the besieged city of El-Fasher, with reports of mass killings, detention, and sexual violence amid a communications blackout.196 Middle East and North Africa Iraq Iraqi authorities have imposed internet shutdowns during national school exam cycles every year since 2016, as a measure to prevent cheating and exam malpractice. This damaging practice has become an annual ritual,197 with nationwide disruptions occurring whenever exams are administered. In 2025, we documented six examrelated shutdown incidents, subjecting people in the country to approximately two hours of deliberate disruptions daily throughout the exam period. Separately, on February 18, 2025, authorities cut off internet services of Korek Telecom, citing unpaid debts and regulatory violations,198 affecting thousands of people in the Kurdistan region.199 The company denounced the suspension as politically motivated and unrelated to the alleged financial dispute. 190 See supra note 12. United Nations (2025). Amnesty International (2024). 191 The Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU) (2023). Fact sheet: Legal status of Israel's siege & blockade of Gaza. https://imeu.org/resources/resources/fact-sheet-legal-status-of-israels-siege-blockade-of-gaza/152/ 192 The Palestinian Information Center (2025). Gaza loses 74 percent of its telecommunications infrastructure. https://english.palinfo.com/news/2025/06/30/342319/ 193 ETC (2025). Update: Gaza Communications Status. https://etcluster.org/document/update-gaza-communications-status/ 194 World Health Organization (2026). Sudan: 1000 days of war deepen the world’s worst health and humanitarian crisis. https://www.who.int/news/item/09-01-2026-sudan-1000-days-of-war-deepen-the-world-s-worst-health-and-humanitarian-crisis/ 195 Dabanga (2025). Sudan to block WhatsApp calls citing security concerns. https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/sudan-to-block-whatsapp-calls-citing-security-concerns 196 BBC (2025). Fear of mass killings as thousands trapped in besieged Sudan city taken by militia group. http://bbc.com/news/live/cy7eyd13ky5t/ 197 198 See supra note 54. Access Now (2025). Rudaw English on X (2025). https://x.com/RudawEnglish/status/1892109257325125938?s=20/ 199 Shafaq News (2025). CMC cuts Korek Telecom's internet access, sparking outrage in Kurdistan. https://shafaq.com/en/Kurdistan/CMC-cuts-Korek-Telecom-s-internet-access-sparking-outrage-in-Kurdistan/