Wars in Gaza, Ukraine and Myanmar among those spurring “digital violence.”
Governments around the world are overseeing a record year of internet closures in 2024, new reports on “digital violence” suggest.
Last year, 296 internet closures were recorded in 54 countries, surpassing 283 in 39 countries in 2023.
The conflict has remained a major cause of internet shutdowns for the second year in a row, according to the report. It uses tactics ranging from cutting jam devices and cables to breaking infrastructure and interfering with service providers.
Myanmar led the global list of criminals with 85 internet shutdowns. The suspension was primarily imposed by the military government to target “a population that resists dictatorship four years after the coup,” Access now writes.
Cross-border shutdowns rose sharply. These included closures carried out by Russia in Ukraine, Israel in Gaza, Thailand in Myanmar and China.
India dropped from the top to second in 2023, and placed second with an 84 shutdown. Pakistan has recorded a 21 shutdown. This is the highest total ever.
“Digital Violence” in Israel in the Mena Region
In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, 17 countries saw 41 internet closures in 2024, down from 77 in 2023. However, the number of affected countries increased from 15 to 17.
Authorities from 10 countries implemented 18 platform blocks in 2024 as a method of information management, the report says, but armed conflict has encouraged 12 internet closures and civilian safety I put my sex at risk.
Israel led the region with six closures during the war with Gaza, and despite international criticism, it “systematically blocked” connectivity and destroyed communications infrastructure, the report said Ta.
In Sudan, Sudanese Army (SAF) and rivals’ rapid support forces (RSF) were shut down during the ongoing war, disrupting access to critical services for millions of people.
In the year, cyberattacks by anonymous Sudanese hacker groups caused closures in Bahrain, Chad and Israel, while Mauritania enacted the region’s first election-related closure since 2021.
The region has caused 10 disruptions in five countries, including Algeria, Iraq and Syria, despite resistance from civil society, and has globally closures with trial-related closures. I continued to lead.
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