32 | RISING REPRESSION MEETS GLOBAL RESISTANCE: INTERNET SHUTDOWNS IN 2025 VII. Fighting back in 2025: resistance, solidarity, and impact The 2025 data and analysis confirm a horrific reality: internet shutdowns keep increasing, not decreasing. The number of shutdowns reached a record high in 2025, continuing a consistent upward trend since 2020. At the same time, however, global resistance to these acts of repression has grown. There is increasing recognition that internet shutdowns violate human rights and undermine democratic processes. Regional and international bodies — including the United Nations (UN), the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC), and election observer missions200 — continue to speak out. Notably, for the first time, election observers explicitly recognized the impact of internet shutdowns on election monitoring, declaring the October 29, 2025 elections in Tanzania flawed and undemocratic.201 Similarly, the ACHPR expressed concern over the violent crackdown and nationwide internet blackout during Tanzania’s elections,202 as well as condemning the January 2026 disruptions in Uganda. The FOC also published a statement opposing the growing normalization of internet shutdowns in times of armed conflict.203 The advocacy of #KeepItOn coalition members and partners has also compelled governments to reverse, end, or provide explanations for shutdown orders,204 in addition to helping people and communities learn tactics and tools to stay connected. Our coalition continues to mobilize efforts against shutdowns, including through supporting strategic litigation, with several cases still pending.205 In 2025, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice issued a ruling declaring shutdowns in Senegal unlawful.206 This was the fourth shutdown-related case the regional court has heard since 2020. Civil society groups have also challenged shutdowns in Kazakhstan,207 Kenya, and Tanzania before national courts.208 And in Bangladesh, sustained demands for accountability led authorities to take steps to outlaw internet shutdowns altogether,209 proposing legislation stating that “no telecommunication connection, related service, or internet access shall be shut down, disrupted, or restricted under any circumstance.” 200 African Union (2025). Preliminary statement of the African Union Election Observation Mission to the October 2025 General Elections in The United Republic of Tanzania: The African Union Election Observation Mission calls for urgent constitutional reforms and inclusive politics in the United Republic of Tanzania, 5 November 2025. https://www.peaceau.org/en/article/preliminary-statement-of-the-african-union-election-observation-mission-to-the-october-2025-generalelections-in-the-united-republic-of-tanzania-the-african-union-election-observation-mission-calls-for-urgent-constitutional-reforms-andinclusive-politic. 201 Capital News (2025). AU declares Tanzania’s election flawed and undemocratic.https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2025/11/au-saystanzania-2025-elections-not-democratic/. 202 African Union (2025). Press release on the nationwide internet outage on election day in the United Republic of Tanzania. https://achpr.au.int/ en/news/press-releases/2025-11-01/nationwide-internet-outage-election-day-tanzania/. 203 Freedom Online Coalition (2025). Joint statement on protecting human rights online and preventing internet shutdowns in times of armed conflict. https://freedomonlinecoalition.com/joint-statement-on-protecting-human-rights-online-and-preventing-internet-shutdowns-in-times-ofarmed-conflict/. 204 Access Now (2025). #KeepItOn: authorities must restore access to social media in South Sudan and uphold human rights. https://www. accessnow.org/press-release/keepiton-in-south-sudan-restore-social-media/. 205 My JoyOnline (2025). Seven organisations sue over internet shutdowns in Kenya. https://www.myjoyonline.com/seven-organisations-sue-over-internet-shutdowns-in-kenya/. 206 Premium Times (2025). ECOWAS Court declares Senegal’s internet shutdown unlawful. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/foreign/west-africa-foreign/794267-ecowas-court-declares-senegals-internet-shutdown-unlawful.html/. 207 Eurasian Digital Foundation (2025). Kazakh lawyer files Constitutional Court appeal against internet shutdowns. https://digitalrights.asia/media/kazakhstan-lawyer-constitutional-court-internet-shutdown-challenge/?lang_ui=en. See also Eurasian Digital Foundation (2025). Appeal filed to Constitutional Court against internet shutdowns. https://digitalrights.asia/events/kazakhstan-constitutionalcourt-internet-shutdown-appeal-2025/?lang_ui=en. 208 MyJoyOnline (2025). Seven organisations sue over internet shutdowns in Kenya. https://www.myjoyonline.com/seven-organisations-sueover-internet-shutdowns-in-kenya/; The Chanzo Initiative (2025). Third legal challenge emerges over post-election events as rights groups sue govt over post-election internet blackout. https://thechanzo.com/2025/12/11/third-legal-challenge-emerges-over-post-election-events-asrights-groups-sue-govt-over-post-election-internet-blackout/ 209 See supra note 17. Dhaka Tribune (2025).