GUWAHATI: India reportedly recorded the second-highest number of internet shutdowns worldwide in 2024, narrowly trailing Myanmar, which imposed just one more blackout.
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Since 2018, India had consistently ranked first in internet shutdowns. However, in 2024, Myanmar led the global list with 85 shutdowns, followed by India with 84. Pakistan recorded 21 shutdowns, while Russia imposed 19, including seven in Ukraine, as per reports.
While India dropped to second place globally, it reportedly remained the top-ranked democracy in terms of internet restrictions. The report highlighted:
“For the first time since 2018, India fell to second place in the global shame list of offenders, though authorities still enforced 84 shutdowns—the highest among democratic nations.”
Myanmar’s military regime, which has faced continued resistance since the 2021 coup, was identified as the leading perpetrator of shutdowns, imposing 85 blackouts in 2024.
The number of internet shutdowns in India declined from 113 in 2023 to 84 in 2024. The restrictions were enforced across 16 states and union territories, with Manipur (21 shutdowns), Haryana (12), and Jammu & Kashmir (12) being the most affected regions.
Of the 84 shutdowns in India,
-41 were imposed in response to protests,
-23 were linked to communal violence.
Worldwide, 296 internet shutdowns were recorded across 54 countries in 2024, marking an increase from 283 shutdowns in 39 countries in 2023. This represents a 35% rise in the number of countries enforcing such restrictions.
Additionally, 47 internet shutdowns remained active at the start of 2025, with 35 of them ongoing for over a year.