8 EMBOLDENED OFFENDERS, ENDANGERED COMMUNITIES 74 shutdowns in 24 countries during protests The world saw a surge of anti-government protests in 2024, with 166 cases documented across 76 countries according to the Carnegie Endowment’s Global Protest Tracker.17 From Senegal to Pakistan, Venezuela to Mozambique, authorities wielded internet shutdowns to quell protests, stifle dissent, disrupt independence movements, and suppress fundamental rights. Large-scale protests challenging undemocratic policies,18 fraudulent election outcomes,19 economic hardships,20 and corruption21 were met with 74 shutdowns across 24 countries, the highest number of protest-related shutdowns in a single year in our records to date. Authorities in France,22 Equatorial Guinea,23 and Pakistan24 used shutdowns in their attempts to quell Bangladesh, Burundi, Chad, Comoros, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, France (in New Caledonia), India, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Syria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Venezuela Shutdown stories ´See page 16 Read the testimony from those affected by shutdowns during protests. self-determination protests and silence marginalized groups, such as the Indigenous Kanak population of New Caledonia, the Annobónese of Equatorial Guinea (including environmental activists), and the Baloch people of Pakistan. Despite oppression and targeted shutdowns, activism among these groups and many others remained steadfast. Although authorities in 60 countries have imposed shutdowns during protests since 2016, this tactic does not appear to suppress mobilization25 and may only amplify violence.26 17 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (2025). Global Protest Tracker. https://carnegieendowment.org/features/global-protesttracker?lang=en 18 Amnesty International (2024). What is happening at the quota-reform protests in Bangladesh?. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ news/2024/07/what-is-happening-at-the-quota-reform-protests-in-bangladesh/ 19 Access Now (2024). Maduro must #KeepItOn in times of protest and unrest. https://www.accessnow.org/press-release/maduro-keepitonduring-protest-and-unrest/ 20 Reuters (2024). Nigeria's president calls for end to protests against economic hardship. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigeriaspresident-calls-end-protests-against-economic-hardship-2024-08-04/ 21 Al Jazeera (2024). ‘Kenya is not asleep anymore’: Why young protesters are not backing down.https://www.aljazeera.com/ features/2024/7/24/kenya-is-not-asleep-anymore-why-young-protesters-are-not-backing-down 22 Access Now (2024). First-time culprit: France blocks TikTok in New Caledonia. https://www.accessnow.org/france-blocks-tiktok-newcaledonia/ 23 Access Now (2024). #KeepItOn: Equatorial Guinea authorities must end internet shutdown and other human rights abuses in Annobón. https://www.accessnow.org/press-release/keepiton-equatorial-guinea-authorities-end-internet-shutdown-in-annobon/ 24 The Tribune (2025). Internet shutdown attempts to silence voices ahead of Baloch Genocide Remembrance Day: Mahrang Baloch. https:// www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/internet-shutdown-attempts-to-silence-voices-ahead-of-baloch-genocide-remembrance-day-mahrangbaloch/ 25 BBC (2023). Pakistan shut down the internet - but that didn't stop the protests. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-65541769 26 Access Now (2024). Violence & internet shutdowns in 2023: the worst year on record. https://www.accessnow.org/press-release/keepitoninternet-shutdowns-2023/; See also, Hertie School (2024). Anita Gohdes discusses her new book on Digital Repression. https://www.hertie-school. org/en/news/allcontent/detail/content/anita-gohdes-discusses-her-new-book-on-digital-repression-on-elliott-schools-pomeps-podcast. (“... Gohdes noted that internet shutdowns typically accompany military offensives, contradicting theories that shutdowns prevent violence…”).