Internet Shutdowns as Political Weapons

The Escalating Trend of Government-Imposed Internet Shutdowns

Across 21 nations with authoritarian regimes, deliberate internet service disruptions have occurred at least 50 times this year, and projections indicate this issue will continue to worsen. As countries like Venezuela approach elections and Cuba confronts protests, restricting digital freedoms is increasingly seen as an effective method for controlling dissent – and these actions are becoming more overt.

The Ease and Impact of Internet Suppression

Disrupting internet access can be achieved with relative simplicity, akin to flipping a switch. Egypt, under Hosni Mubarak in 2011, employed this tactic. Myanmar experienced daily shutdowns lasting months a decade later, depriving hundreds of thousands of communication channels and reducing the nation’s GDP by approximately 2.5%. Currently, citizens in Sudan are facing internet access disruptions amidst an ongoing military coup.

However, most governments adopt a more subtle approach.

Nuanced Methods of Control

Iran pioneered website blocking, initiating this practice during the Green Movement in 2009. Tunisia, similarly, restricted access to specific websites during protests demanding increased accountability this year. A growing number of governments are leveraging their control over internet service providers to “throttle” – significantly slow down – access to particular domains, rendering them unusable. Recently, Russia throttled Twitter in response to its refusal to remove content concerning opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Justifications and Consequences

Governments offer various justifications for restricting internet access, frequently citing national security concerns or fears of violence during public demonstrations. However, as more aspects of life migrate online, the ability of governments to curtail internet access poses a significant threat to safety, freedom, and overall well-being.

The internet’s evolution into a global, interconnected network has undeniably fostered human freedom, providing novel avenues for information discovery and organization. Yet, increasing opposition to a truly open global internet from a surprising number of governments risks a gradual erosion of freedoms as our lives become increasingly reliant on online access.

A Worsening Global Problem

The frequency of deliberate shutdowns has increased, prompting UN Special Rapporteur Clement Voule to warn that these disruptions are becoming more widespread and severe. Internet shutdowns are increasingly utilized as a primary tool for governments to suppress dissent and control populations while minimizing international condemnation.

The effects of internet shutdowns extend far beyond communication restrictions. They disrupt economies by halting commerce and trade, impede access to education, and even endanger lives. However, the detection of shutdowns is becoming more challenging as covert techniques, such as throttling, become commonplace.

The Difficulty of Detection and the Need for Documentation

The increasing complexity of the internet makes it difficult to ascertain what is occurring when a government limits its citizens’ access. It is impossible to effectively condemn actions that remain unseen.

Therefore, documenting even partial internet shutdowns is a crucial initial step toward addressing this global issue. No government should be permitted to shut down the internet without the awareness of the international community.

Efforts to Mitigate the Impact

Jigsaw is collaborating with leading researchers at Access Now, Censored Planet, Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI), and others to make information accessible, enhance understanding, and lessen the impact of shutdowns.

Several resources can help mitigate the effects of internet shutdowns. These include mesh networks, virtual private networks (VPNs), and shared proxy servers, which can provide alternative means of connecting to the open web. Implementing internetwide standards can also make domain-level throttling more difficult.

The Importance of Political Action

However, technology alone is insufficient. Preventing future shutdowns necessitates political action – increasing the perceived cost of such actions within the international community.

Grassroots and Governmental Roles

Grassroots movements like #KeepItOn, a coalition of over 240 organizations from 105 countries, are actively working to highlight internet shutdowns and provide advocacy, technical support, and legal interventions to prevent future disruptions.

Democratic governments must also unite in their response.

As the world’s leading democracies formalize multilateral coordination on technology issues through groups like the T-12 or the Quad, they should prioritize internet shutdowns as a central component of their agenda. Through the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the United States and other like-minded nations could build upon the work of the Online Freedom Coalition – a group of 35 democracies committed to online freedom – to increase funding for understanding the technical aspects of the threat and developing appropriate technical and policy responses.

They could also ensure consistent condemnation of future shutdowns and establish clear “red lines” that would trigger sanctions against countries violating their commitments under international human rights law.

A Call for a Free and Open Internet

Despite the challenges, it is incumbent upon democracies to champion the cause of a free and open internet. Only then can the promise of a universally accessible internet be fully realized.