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RISING REPRESSION MEETS GLOBAL RESISTANCE: INTERNET SHUTDOWNS IN 2025
I. Internet shutdowns in 2025: a global overview
As 2026 began, authorities in Iran responded to mass protests by imposing one of the country’s most comprehensive and prolonged national blackouts,1 in a clear effort to hide grave human rights abuses.2 As of
February 12, 2026, under the cover of the shutdown, there were 7,002 confirmed killings with more than 11,730
cases still under investigation.3 At the same time, the Ugandan government tried to silence dissent during
critical elections by cutting internet access and blocking social media platforms,4 demonstrating blatant
disregard for human rights and election integrity. Today, in Iran, millions have been cut from the world even
as the U.S. and Israel execute a military campaign in likely violation of the UN charter.5 Meanwhile, Uganda’s
president is enjoying a seventh term in office despite reports of election fraud.6
As horrifying as these shutdowns are, they are not unusual. Not a single day of 2025 passed without at
least one internet shutdown, disrupting lives and livelihoods, inflicting collective punishment, and deepening
human suffering. In 2025, millions of people came to expect isolation, suppression, and disconnection from
the outside world.
Where people experienced shutdowns in 20256
Myanmar: 95*
India: 65
Pakistan: 20
Russia: 19*
Iran: 11
Tanzania: 8
Iraq: 7
Palestine: 7*
Jordan: 5
Türkiye: 5
Afghanistan: 4
Cameroon: 4
Ukraine: 4*
Kenya: 3
Sudan: 3
Syria: 3
Venezuela: 3
Yemen: 3*
Belarus: 2
Cambodia: 2*
China: 2
Democratic
Republic of
the Congo: 2
Ethiopia: 2
Guinea: 2
Indonesia: 2
Nepal: 2
Nigeria: 2
Oman: 2
Panama: 2
Albania: 1
Algeria: 1
Angola: 1
Central African
Republic: 1*
Chad: 1
Equatorial
Guinea: 1
Guinea-Bissau: 1
Kyrgyzstan: 1
Latvia: 1
Lebanon: 1
Libya: 1
Lithuania: 1
Malaysia: 1
Papua
New Guinea: 1
Qatar: 1
Saudi Arabia: 1
South Sudan: 1
Togo: 1
Turkmenistan: 1
Uganda: 1
United Arab
Emirates: 1
United States
of America: 1
Vietnam: 1
*The seven countries and colonized or occupied territories above with a single * after the number are all those impacted by cross-border shutdowns.
1 IODA (2026). A Comparative Look at Internet Shutdowns in Iran: 2019, 2022, 2025, and 2026. https://ioda.inetintel.cc.gatech.edu/reports/acomparative-look-at-internet-shutdowns-in-iran-2019-2022-2026-and-2026/
2 RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty (2026). Iran Publishes Protest Death List, But Rights Groups Say Toll Is Far Higher.
https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protest-death-toll-ofogh-tv/33666963.html/
3 Anadolu Ajansi (2026). Death toll in Iran's recent unrest surpasses 7,000, says US-based rights group. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middleeast/death-toll-in-irans-recent-unrest-surpasses-7-000-says-us-based-rights-group/3827875. See also HRANA (2026). Day Thirty-six of the
Protests; Government Releases List of Names and State TV Insults Those Killed.
https://www.en-hrana.org/day-thirty-six-of-the-protests-government-releases-list-of-names-and-state-tv-insults-those-killed/
4 Access Now (2026). #KeepItOn coalition raise the alarm on potential shutdown during upcoming elections in Uganda. https://www.accessnow.
org/press-release/keepiton-coalition-raise-the-alarm-on-potential-shutdown-during-upcoming-elections-in-uganda/
5 Al Jazeera. Are US-Israeli attacks against Iran legal under international law?
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/3/are-us-israeli-attacks-against-iran-legal-under-international-law
6 UN OHCHR (2026). Uganda: Repression and impunity impacting right to participation in leadup to elections.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/01/uganda-repression-and-impunity-impacting-right-participation-leadup