India saw 84 internet shutdowns in 2024, more than any other democracy: Report | Technology News
India recorded 84 internet shutdowns in 2024, the highest among democratic nations, surpassed only by Myanmar, which saw 85 such blackouts imposed by the military junta in the country, according to a report by digital rights organisation Access Now.
This is the first time in six years that India has not been named as the country which saw the most number of internet shutdowns in the world.
“Despite a modest decrease in shutdowns from 2023 [116 internet shutdowns], India still imposed 84 in 2024, the most disruptions ordered in a democracy that year,” the report published on Monday read.
Out of the 84 shutdowns, 41 were related to protests while 23 of them were triggered by communal violence, as per the report. Five internet shutdowns were imposed by authorities during government job placement examinations last year.
At least one internet shutdown was imposed in over 16 Indian states and Union Territories.
The state-wise data further revealed that the state government in Manipur imposed the most number of shutdowns (21) within the country, followed by Haryana (12), and Jammu & Kashmir (12).
“Shutdowns are incompatible with India’s global leadership ambitions, whether on AI, digital governance, or skilling. In no other democracy are people cut off from connectivity without oversight or accountability, year after year,” Namrata Maheshwari, senior policy counsel at Access Now, said in a statement.
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Pointing to the lack of safeguards in the Telecommunications Act 2023 and the Telecom Suspension Rules 2024, Maheshwari urged authorities to “repeal rights-violating laws, and make 2025 a shutdown-free year for all people in India”.
Parts of the revamped telecom legislative framework went into effect last year. A key criticism of the Telecom Act is that it retains the colonial-era provisions of the Telegraph Act, 1885, for government-ordered internet shutdowns without adding safeguards such as an independent oversight mechanism to review shutdown orders.
Currently, the legal validity of shutdown orders are reviewed by a three-member committee comprising secretary-level officials at the Centre and in states.
Internet shutdowns across the globe
Last year saw over 296 government-imposed internet shutdowns in 54 countries, with 202 such disruptions recorded in 11 countries or territories in the Asia Pacific.
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“Myanmar, India, and Pakistan together accounted for over 64 per cent of all recorded shutdowns in 2024,” Access Now said.
Authorities shut down the internet most during instances of violence and conflict, with over 103 conflict-related shutdowns in 11 countries, including India. Shutdowns during protests and instability, exams, elections, and to cover up grave human rights abuses were identified as other triggers in the report.
“Shutdowns destabilise societies, undermine digital progress, put entire communities at risk, and provide a cloak of impunity for human rights abuses. Authorities from Myanmar to Pakistan are isolating people from the rest of the world with impunity, reflecting the rising digital authoritarianism in Asia,” Raman Jit Singh Chima, Asia Pacific Policy director at Access Now, said.
Access to over 71 specific online platforms was blocked in 35 countries—an increase from 53 blocks in 25 countries in 2023. As per the report, Elon Musk-owned social media platform X was the most blocked platform (blocked 24 times in 14 countries) around the world in 2024, followed by TikTok (blocked 10 times in 10 countries) and secure messaging app Signal (10 times in nine countries).
