Shrinking Democracy, Growing Violence: Internet Shutdowns in 2023

In 2023, there were a record-breaking 283 cases of internet shutdowns across 39 countries, the highest number ever recorded in a single year. This marked a 41 per cent increase from 2022 and a 28 per cent increase from 2019. 

The report states that the geographic scope of shutdowns in broadening. As high as 80 shutdowns impacted multiple regions or entire countries. 

Natural disasters were a new trigger for shutdowns in 2023, with 4 shutdowns occurring during natural disasters in 4 countries. Shutdowns during natural disasters, such as the floods in Libya and the earthquake in Türkiye, severely hindered emergency response efforts and access to critical information.

Shutdowns were triggered due to conflicts, protests, exams, elections and natural calamities. The report notes 63 protest-related shutdowns and 12 shutdowns due to exams. 

Conflicts were the leading trigger for internet shutdowns in 2023, with 74 shutdowns across nine countries, including Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, and Ukraine. These shutdowns often coincided with acts of violence and were used to cover up atrocities, the report states. 

India, Iran, Myanmar, and Ukraine made up four of the top five countries with the highest number of shutdowns in both 2022 and 2023. India ranked first with 116 shutdowns, followed by Myanmar and Iran with 37 and 34 shutdowns respectively. 

Shutdowns and platform blocks disproportionately affect marginalised communities. For instance, Grindr, a social networking app for LGBTQ+ people, was blocked in several countries, exacerbating the isolation and marginalisation of these communities. 

In 2023, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice further developed its legal stance against internet shutdowns by ruling that Guinea's shutdowns during the 2020 constitutional referendum and general election were unlawful. 

Focus and Factoids by Arunima Mandwariya.