Internet shutdowns: India has topped the list of countries which imposed the highest number of internet shutdowns in the world in 2022. Internet advocacy watchdog Access Now in a report on Wednesday said India has topped the list for the fifth successive year.
84 internet shutdowns in India in 2022
Of the 187 internet shutdowns globally, 84 took place in India in 2022. Out of 84, 49 times internet connection was disrupted in Kashmir alone, the watchdog report said.
“Authorities disrupted internet access at least 49 times in Kashmir due to political instability and violence, including a string of 16 back-to-back orders for three-day-long curfew-style shutdowns in January and February 2022,” mentioned the report.
Ukraine second in the list
War-ravaged Ukraine was at the second spot in the list. As per the report, internet was disrupted at least 22 times in Ukraine after the Russian invasion of the country on February 24 last year.
“During Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian military cut internet access at least 22 times, engaging in cyberattacks and deliberately destroying telecommunications infrastructure,” internet advocacy watchdog Access Now said in its report.
Iran imposed 18 internet shutdown in 2022
Ukraine was followed by Iran where internet shutdown was imposed 18 times in 2022 after the death of 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman Mahsa Amini in police custody on September 16 last year. She was arrested by the morality policy for not adhering by the hijab rules. Post her death, world-wide protests were held to seek justice for Mahsa Amini.
