India recorded 84 internet shutdowns in 2024, making it the highest among democratic nations and second only to Myanmar.
According to a report by Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition, for six consecutive years, India held the global record for the most shutdowns until Myanmar surpassed it in 2024 with 85 digital blackouts.
The report, titled "Emboldened Offenders, Endangered Communities: Internet Shutdowns in 2024," highlights the increasing use of digital blackouts worldwide, calling them a growing threat to human rights.
In 2024, a total of 296 shutdowns were recorded across 54 countries, surpassing the 283 shutdowns across 39 nations in 2023. The number of affected countries saw a sharp 35% increase from 2022, with seven nations imposing internet restrictions for the first time.
Social media restrictions also intensified, with X (formerly Twitter) being the most blocked platform globally, followed by Signal and TikTok, which saw a significant rise in bans compared to 2023.
In India, authorities imposed 84 shutdowns across 16 states and union territories.
The worst-affected regions were - Manipur (21 shutdowns), Haryana (12 shutdowns), and Jammu & Kashmir (12 shutdowns).
According to the report, 41 shutdowns were linked to protests, while 23 were imposed due to communal violence. This marks a decline from 116 shutdowns recorded in India in 2023, but the country remains the world's leading democracy in restricting internet access.
Since the 2021 military coup, Myanmar has used internet shutdowns as a tool of repression and information control. In 2024, the country recorded 85 shutdowns, with at least 31 linked to human rights violations.
The Myanmar military junta was responsible for 74 shutdowns, 17 of which coincided with airstrikes on civilian areas. Meanwhile, opposition groups also enforced digital blackouts in areas under their control, making it the first recorded instance of such actions by non-state actors.
Additionally, China and Thailand imposed six cross-border internet restrictions affecting Myanmar.
The report also noted a rise in internet shutdowns in war zones, particularly in Gaza, Ukraine, and Myanmar.
In Gaza, Israel imposed six blackouts in 2024, including an ongoing shutdown since October 9, 2023, which wiped out 13 local internet providers, of which eight have not been restored. These shutdowns coincided with heavy military action, blocking communication for civilians and humanitarian organisations.