Common causes triggering internet shutdowns worldwide 2018

In 2018, most internet shutdowns were triggered or influenced by political instability or protest, with communal violence following in third place. Official justifications for internet shutdowns and social media blocks rarely matched the actual causes, with public safety and national security being most commonly cited as the official reason for shutdowns.

Common actual causes that triggered or influenced internet shutdowns worldwide in 2018

Characteristic	Number of instances
Political instability	53
Protest	45
Communal violence	40
Other	16
Elections	12
Information control	11
Exam cheating	11
Unknown	8

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Release date

July 2019

More information

Region

Worldwide

Survey time period

2018

Number of respondents

196 shutdowns

Special properties

multiple answers were possible

Supplementary notes

According to the source: "The number of shutdowns in 2018 is estimated to be more than 196. This number indicates only the incidents we have been able to verify and confirm through our partners on the ground and via the media. It is highly likely that the number of shutdowns is much higher than what we have documented. Out of the more than 200 incidents of shutdowns reported in 2018, only 77 were acknowledged by the government or entities that ordered the shutdowns."

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