Dr. Miguel Angel Lara Otaola
In Pakistan, every year the government –citing concerns of public safety- shuts down the internet in major cities across the country during holidays such as Eid and Ashura. What is an internet shutdown and what does it mean? An internet shutdown is ‘an intentional disruption of Internet or electronic communications, rendering them inaccessible or effectively unusable, for a specific population or within a location, often to exert control over the flow of information’ (Olukotun, 2016). Usually done by the government, these blackouts may be used for limiting internet but can also be extended to communications networks including social media, messaging, mobile services and SMS, effectively placing individuals on a ‘digital curfew’ (Srivastava, 2016)
Between January 2016 and September 2017 116 government-ordered internet shutdowns affected at least 30 different countries including Bahrain, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iraq, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine (Access Now, 2017). India alone experienced 22 disruptions in 2016, making it the country with the most number of shutdowns. And the trend is rising. This is demonstrated by researchers from the University of Washington, who since 1995 have identified situations where governments deliberately interfered with the operation of the internet. While between 1995 and 2001 there were less than 10 disruptions per year globally, 111 situations were identified in 2010 alone (Howard, Agarwal and Hussain, 2011).
Of course not all government interferences are the same. Interferences can vary in coverage, length and most importantly, intention. Governments that pull the plug on the Internet usually claim access is restricted because of national security, to prevent protests and riots and for ensuring the safety of officials. For instance, in 2013 Pakistan shutdown the internet arguing this would help keep the visiting Chinese Premier safe (Aydin, 2016). Incredibly enough, the holding of school exams is also a reason: In 2015 Iraq shut down internet access to block the sharing of national exam answers for entry into junior high school (Gallagher, 2015).
In addition to those situations, governments increasingly restrict the internet during elections. In some cases, governments argue that shutdowns occur in order to stop fraud. During the 2013 elections in Venezuela, the Science and Technology Minister announced that he blocked internet access in the country after a hacking wave involving the Twitter account of the president and to avoid a hacking attempt on the Electoral Council website (Global Voices, 2013). In other cases, governments say they shut down internet to control the spread of fake information, including phony election results. In the Republic of Congo the government completely blocked the internet during the 2016 presidential elections in order to prevent the ‘illegal’ reporting of results (CPJ, 2016).
Although those are the official reasons governments provide, there is reason to believe their intentions are different. Restricting access to information, curbing dissent and stifling freedoms of expression and association are more likely the most common suspects. In 2009, following the re-election of President Ahmadinejad in Iran, thousands poured to the streets in protest claiming massive fraud. Then, the government blocked internet access throughout the country for about 24 hours. For some, the measures were aimed at depriving the opposition of its key means of mobilizing the masses (CBS, 2009). Similar situations have unfolded in Burundi, where the government shut down Whatsapp and Viber after protests emerged challenging President Nkrunziza’s reelection for a third term; and Gabon, where the government blocked the internet shortly after tensions and violence erupted following the re-election of Ali Bongo by a slim margin in 2016 (Latif, 2016).
The list goes on, but what is clear is that this is becoming a recurring tool for governments across the world, with important political and economic consequences. As mentioned, this harms basic human rights and freedoms of speech, assembly and access to information. Cutting off the internet can curb dissent, limit the organization capabilities of the opposition and prevent journalists from doing their work, amongst others. It also harms social rights as it limits citizens’ access to basic services such as health care and education (FOC, 2017). Moreover, it also has a large impact on economic activity. During a period of one year (July 2015-June 2016) it is estimated that a total of 81 shutdowns in 19 countries cost the global economy US $2.4 billion (West, 2016).
The internet has become a human right. During summer 2016, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a non-binding resolution condemning countries that intentionally disrupt access to the internet for its citizens (Vincent, 2016). This resolution builds on article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which covers freedom of expression, and particularly section 32, which enshrines ‘the promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the Internet’ (UN, 20162) Unfortunately, currently there are no binding sanctions for governments that restrict the internet. There is still much to be done.
References
Access Now (2017) Internet shutdowns in context. Keep it On Campaign. Available at: https://www.accessnow.org/keepiton/ (Accessed 16 December 2017)
Aydin, D. (2016) Five excuses governments (ab) use to justify Internet shutdowns. DW Akademie, 24 October. Available at: http://www.dw.com/en/five-excuses-governments-abuse-to-justify-internet-shutdowns/a-36135649 (Accessed 16 December 2017)
CBS News (2009) ‘Iran blocks Internet on eve of rallies’. CBS News, 6 December. Available at: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-blocks-internet-on-eve-of-rallies/ (Accessed 16 December 2017)
Committee to Protect Journalists-CPJ (2016) ‘Congo imposes total communications blackout during election’. CPJ, 22 March. Available at: https://cpj.org/2016/03/congo-imposes-total-communications-blackout-during.php (Accessed 16 December 2017)
Freedom Online Coalition – FOC (2017). Joint statement on State sponsored network disruptions. Freedom Online Coalition: London. Available at: https://www.accessnow.org/30-governments-step-denounce-internet-shutdowns-rightscon-brussels/ (Accessed 16 December 2017)
Gallagher, S. (2015) ‘Iraqi government shutdown internet to…prevent exam cheating?’ Ars Technica, 29 June. Available at: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/06/iraqi-government-shut-down-internet-to-prevent-exam-cheating/ (Accessed 16 December 2017)
Global Voices (2013) ‘Venezuela: internet blocked for “three minutes” on Election Day’. Global Voices Advox, 15 April. Available at: https://advox.globalvoices.org/2013/04/15/venezuela-internet-blocked-for-three-minutes-on-election-da/(Accessed 16 December 2017)
Howard, P., Agarwal, S. and Muzammil, H. (2011) “The Dictators’ Digital Dilemma: When Do States Disconnect their Digital Networks?’ Issues in Technology Innovation. Avaialble at: https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-dictators-digital-dilemma-when-do-states-disconnect-their-digital-networks/ (Accessed 16 December 2017)
Latif Dahir, A. (2016) ‘Gabon is the latest African country to shut down its internet as election protests grow’ Quartz Media, 2 September. Available at:https://qz.com/771996/gabon-is-the-latest-african-country-to-shut-down-its-internet-as-election-protests-grow/ (Accessed 16 December 2017)
Olukotun, D. (2016) Internet shutdowns- an explainer. DW Akademie, 12 December. Available at: http://www.dw.com/en/internet-shutdowns-an-explainer/a-36731481 (Accessed 16 December 2017)
Srivastava, R. (2016) Anatomy of Digital Curfews: Human Rights vs National Security. Digital Empowerment Foundation: New Dehli. Available https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9LKE-1DkhtFczhZX1ZIMUVUSEk/view
United Nations (2016) General Assembly resolution A/HRC/32/ L.20 The promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the Internet (27 June 2016) Available at: https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/HRC/32/L.20 (Accessed 16 December 2017)
Vincent, J. (2016) ‘UN condemns internet access disruption as a human rights violation’ The Verge, 4 July. Available at: https://www.theverge.com/2016/7/4/12092740/un-resolution-condemns-disrupting-internet-access (Accessed 16 December 2017)
West, D. (2016) ‘Internet shutdown cost countries $2.4 billion last year’. Center for Technology Innovation [Online] Available at: https://www.brookings.edu/research/internet-shutdowns-cost-countries-2-4-billion-last-year/ (Accessed 16 December 2017)
