18 SHRINKING DEMOCRACY, GROWING VIOLENCE similarly across platforms from 2022 to 2023, with the largest increase impacting Telegram (seven to 10). Three out of four countries implementing shutdowns for the first time in 2023 blocked platforms, including Kenya (Telegram), Nepal (TikTok), and Suriname (Meta services Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram). We also recorded platform blocks in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Lebanon, and Qatar that had been ongoing since 2016, 2019, and 2020, respectively — marking the first time we have included each country as a shutdown perpetrator in our records. The persistent use of platform blocks indicates authorities may perceive them as “more acceptable” or “less harmful,” but disruption of platforms often disproportionately impacts targeted and marginalized communities or people who rely on them as their only viable mode of access to information and communication with loved ones, colleagues, customers, news sources, and service providers. In Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Iraq, Pakistan, and Senegal, authorities combined the use of social media blocks with mobile network shutdowns during protests, school exams, and conflict to expand the scope of their information control. When they cut mobile access, block platforms, or both, authorities make it clear that they intend to silence and repress a wide swath of the population, often leaving broadband services available for government services, businesses, and wealthy elites. The widespread blocking of Grindr — the world’s largest social networking app for gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people — is an especially telling indicator that authorities are using blocks to deliberately marginalize specific groups of people. Jordan and Tanzania issued new blocks of Grindr in 2023 on top of ongoing blocking in another 10 countries across the MENA region (Iran, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, UAE) and APAC region (China, Indonesia, Pakistan).70 This clear repression of LGBTQ+ spaces reflects a global wave of intolerance and discrimination that is dehumanizing and isolating people from vital support networks.71 LGBTQ+ people already face a wide range of serious threats to their fundamental rights and physical safety, and censorship and shutdowns are only exacerbating the harm and putting people at further risk. Even democracies that often position themselves as champions of free expression waded into dangerous waters in 2023 as policymakers put forward misguided arguments for blocking or banning certain social media platforms.72 This not only threatens free expression and other human rights in these countries, it sends a dangerous message of tacit endorsement to governments around the world looking to justify blocking platforms that millions rely on. Passage of legislation in India, Jordan, and Russia making it easier for authorities to impose shutdowns and prevent people from using circumvention tools like virtual private networks (VPNs) to access blocked platforms only reinforces this harmful trend.73 In the U.S., policymakers debated issues around TikTok ranging from general data privacy concerns, to the potential threats China poses to U.S. national security, to the platform’s purported algorithmic manipulation of young audiences to adopt a more pro-Palestinian stance.74 On April 24, 2024, U.S. President Joe Biden signed a bill into law that threatens to block access to TikTok nationally if the company does not divest to a U.S.-based owner — setting the stage for a string of legal challenges and, if ultimately implemented, the country’s first recorded shutdown.75 Kenyan parliamentarians petitioned to ban the platform to protect religious and moral values.76 And as authorities in France grappled with mass protests following 70 OONI (2023). Grindr blocked in Jordan: Shrinking LGBTQ spaces. https://ooni.org/post/2023-jordan-blocks-grindr#conclusion 71 Access Now and Electronic Frontier Foundation (2024). United Nations Independent Expert on Protection against Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Written Submission: Anti-LGBTQ+ Repression. https://www. eff.org/document/access-now-eff-written-submission-un-ie-sogie-jan-2024/ 72 See Euronews Next (2024). Which countries have banned TikTok and why? https://www.euronews.com/next/2024/03/14/ which-countries-have-banned-tiktok-cybersecurity-data-privacy-espionage-fears 73 Access Now (2023). Indian government must withdraw the Telecommunications Bill, 2023, to protect fundamental human rights. https://www.accessnow.org/press-release/india-must-withdraw-the-telecommunications-bill-2023/; Access Now (2023). Jordan’s new proposed cybercrimes law will strongly undermine digital rights. https://www.accessnow.org/press-release/ jordans-cybercrimes-law/; The Moscow Times (2024). Russia Will Block VPN Services in March, Says Safe Internet League Chief Mizulina. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/02/05/russia-will-block-vpn-services-in-march-says-safe-internet-leaguechief-mizulina-a83978 74 Al Jazeera (2024). Dissecting the 'TikTok problem.' https://www.aljazeera.com/program/the-listening-post/2024/3/23/ dissecting-the-tiktok-problem 75 Axios (2024). What happens now that Biden has signed the TikTok bill. https://www.axios.com/2024/04/24/joe-biden-tik-tok-ban-bill 76 Access Now (2023). Kenyan parliament must reject petition to ban TikTok. https://www.accessnow.org/press-release/tiktokban-petition-kenya/