10 EMBOLDENED OFFENDERS, ENDANGERED COMMUNITIES 12 election-related shutdowns in 8 countries The year 2024 was deemed a “year of democracy,”36 as elections took place in at least 64 countries to determine representatives for nearly half of the world’s population.37 We recorded 12 electionrelated shutdowns in eight countries after a yearslong decrease, documenting the highest yearly total of such shutdowns since 2019. In Uganda, a Facebook block implemented during elections in 2021 was still in place in 2024, and as of early 2025, remains ongoing. The other seven countries that imposed election-related shutdowns (Azerbaijan, Comoros, India, Mauritania, Mozambique, Pakistan, and Venezuela) were among 23 that we had flagged as high-risk for the 2024 #KeepItOn Election Watch38 campaign. Azerbaijan, Comoros, India, Mauritania, Mozambique, Pakistan, Uganda, and Venezuela during protests.40 In March, following joint advocacy with our coalition partner, Paradigm Initiative,41 the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights adopted a landmark resolution42 urging member states to refrain from imposing internet shutdowns during elections. And in November, authorities in Mauritius ordered a 10-day, sweeping social media ban ahead of their election, but after facing intense pressure from local civil society and community groups, rescinded the order the following day.43 Shutdown stories ´See page 16 Read the testimonies from people suffering shutdowns during political unrest. Despite these troubling developments for human rights and democracy, there were also signs of progress and important milestones of support for the fight to #KeepItOn. In January 2024, authorities in Bangladesh publicly committed39 to ensuring unfettered access to the internet throughout the election, and followed through, although they later regressed, imposing a punishing string of shutdowns 36 37 Global Coalition for Tech Justice (2024). #YearOfDemocracy: Protect people and elections, not Big Tech. https://yearofdemocracy.org/ Time (2023). The Ultimate Election Year: All the Elections Around the World in 2024. https://time.com/6550920/world-elections-2024/ 38 Access Now (2024). 2024 elections and internet shutdowns watch. https://www.accessnow.org/campaign/2024-elections-and-internetshutdowns-watch/ 39 The Daily Star (2024). Internet and mobile network to be fully operational on election day: EC Secy. https://www.thedailystar.net/techstartup/news/internet-and-mobile-network-be-fully-operational-election-day-ec-secy-3508161 40 AP (2024). Internet is still down in Bangladesh despite apparent calm following deadly protests. https://apnews.com/article/bangladeshcampus-violence-quota-hasina-3f9a3903487e89f1a0bc0d596d91b89b 41 Paradigm Initiative (2024). Paradigm Initiative Welcomes ACHPR Resolution 580 on Internet Shutdowns and Elections in Africa. https:// paradigmhq.org/paradigm-initiative-welcomes-achpr-resolution-580-on-internet-shutdowns-and-elections-in-africa/ 42 African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (2024). Resolution on Internet Shutdowns and Elections in Africa - ACHPR.Res.580 (LXXVIII)2024. https://achpr.au.int/en/adopted-resolutions/580-internet-shutdowns-elections-africa-achprres580-lxxvii 43 Access Now (2024). #KeepItOn Mauritius: global coalition urges first-time offender to end crackdown on social media. https://www. accessnow.org/press-release/keepiton-mauritius-end-crackdown-on-social-media/