India Takes Sixth Spot as Global Internet Shutdowns Rise 12%

By Pune Media On Jan 10, 2025 15

The global cost of internet shutdowns crossed over $7.69 billion in 2024, down from $9.13 billion in 2023, as per a report by independent review website, Top10VPN.

India ranked sixth among countries experiencing major internet shutdowns, incurring an economic cost of $322.9 million. The blackouts in the country lasted approximately 2,920 hours and affected 67.7 million internet users. India followed Pakistan, Myanmar, Sudan, Venezuela and Bangladesh in the list.

Key findings

In 2024, the world experienced 39,687 hours of social media blackouts as internet shutdowns increased 12% with 49,101 hours of blackouts.

Most blocked social media platform: Elon Musk’s X experienced 11 shutdowns, followed by TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram with eight each. The governments of Pakistan, Myanmar, and Venezuela blocked X for extensive periods of time.
Reasons behind disruptions: Local authorities ordered internet suspensions for multiple reasons like conflict, information control, elections, protests, exams, military coups, and unknown circumstances. Of these, conflict and information control-based internet shutdowns incurred the most significant economic costs of $2.35 billion and $1.55 billion respectively.
Human rights impact: Over one-third of the internet shutdowns were associated with additional abuse of human rights like peaceful protests, free & fair elections, and press freedom. Internet disruptions trampled the freedom to assemble peacefully in 20 out of the total 28 countries.

Why this matters for India?

Despite a slight improvement from 96 in 2023 to 60 in 2024, India has consistently seen over 100 internet shutdowns per year, raising concerns about citizens’ rights and freedoms. Most notably, the eastern state of Manipur, embroiled in ethnic conflict, saw the longest internet shutdown of 2023, spanning from May to December and lasting over 5,000 hours. The shutdown hindered the state’s residents from facilitating relief work and also prevented students in out-of-state universities from communicating with their families stranded in Manipur. The internet suspensions also violated constitutional provisions such as the Right to Education, particularly affecting students in Jammu and Kashmir.

Despite the severity of the issue, the government remains evasive in its commitments. Previously, a parliamentary committee has called out the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) for failing to implement its recommendations about the maintenance of internet shutdown records. Moreover, the government refrains from carrying out any studies on the impact of internet shutdowns on the population, as admitted by the Communications Minister during the winter session of parliament. Further rationalising internet suspensions, it also claimed that the ‘internet’s contribution to citizens’ well-being should be balanced with the prevention of anti-social elements misusing the internet’. On the contrary, studies have noted the inadequacy of such suspension orders in pacifying protests, instead incentivising violence.

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