The #KeepItOn coalition brings together hundreds of civil society organizations and our allies from around the world – in government, international institutions, media, the private sector, and beyond – to fight for an end to internet shutdowns. To learn more, check out the #KeepItOn FAQ, listen to the Kill Switch podcast, and read our latest annual report.
INTERNET SHUTDOWNS UNDERMINE HUMAN RIGHTS
An internet shutdown is defined as “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.” They take many forms, from full network disruptions, to slowing down internet speed (“throttling”), to platform blocking.
Internet shutdowns are always an attack on human rights. When people are disconnected, it impacts all aspects of life — from work and education, to medical care and banking. Shutdowns block journalism, restrict free expression and community organizing, and prevent documentation of human rights abuses. During conflict and crisis, they stop people from accessing life-saving information and humanitarian aid.
→ Impact of shutdowns on:
DOCUMENTING SHUTDOWNS GLOBALLY
Together with partners in the #KeepItOn coalition, Access Now documents verified internet shutdowns in the Shutdowns Tracker Optimization Project (STOP) dataset. Beginning in 2016, STOP provides the most complete record of the scale, variety, and severity of shutdowns around the world, and we are continuously working to improve it.
Annual report: internet shutdowns in 2024
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EXPERIENCING A SHUTDOWN?
REPORT A SHUTDOWN
Detected a shutdown?
Email us at shutdownalert@accessnow.org
If you can, please include screenshots of offline pages, time and date of the shutdown, photos, or any other information you think would be helpful.
DIGITAL SECURITY TIPS
Here are some tips on how to safely prepare for and navigate an internet shutdown, get back online, and document shutdowns as they happen.
GET HELP
If you are a human rights defender, civil society organization, or journalist impacted by a shutdown or facing other digital threats, contact our Digital Security Helpline for 24/7 assistance to get back online.
FEATURED CAMPAIGNS
ELECTION WATCH
Internet shutdowns undermine election integrity and democracy. Through our #KeepItOn Election Watch, we identify countries where there is a heightened risk of election-related shutdowns and advocate to keep people online.
Want to work with the #KeepItOn coalition to prevent an election shutdown in your country?
See our civil society guide for collaborating on elections-related advocacy.
English | Russian | French | Spanish | Arabic | Swahili
#Noexamshutdown
Together with SMEX and the Internet Society, we are mobilizing efforts to stop the systematic use of exam-related shutdowns to prevent cheating — urging authorities across the Middle East and North African region and elsewhere to find alternative, rights-respecting solutions that do not negatively impact entire populations.
shutdown impact stories
Internet shutdowns hurt people and communities worldwide. To amplify the voices of victims and strengthen global advocacy against shutdowns, we collect and share shutdown impact stories from around the world, including from Sudan, Uganda, Iran, Bangladesh, Togo, Tanzania, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Ethiopia.
explore more
See all the resources and latest updates on #KeepItOn campaign actions, publications, press coverage, and more.
WHO IS FIGHTING BACK
Access Now launched the #KeepItOn campaign in 2016 to mobilize people, communities, and civil society actors globally to fight against internet shutdowns. Today, it unites more than 334 national, international, regional, and local organizations in what has become the world’s leading coalition pushing for an end to internet shutdowns globally.
Our coalition comprises research centers, rights and advocacy groups, detection networks, and foundations and media organizations, among others. Together, we raise awareness about shutdowns and their impact, monitor and document shutdowns, support people and communities fighting shutdowns, and hold perpetrators to account. We work with diverse stakeholders including governments, regional and international bodies, industry leaders, journalists, researchers, and others to push back against shutdowns and establish rights-respecting norms. Membership is open to civil society organizations, and we encourage you to join us.
Acceso Libre
Access Now
ACI Participa
ACTION Coalition
ADISI-Cameroun
Advocacy Initiative for Development
AFEX
Afghan Independent Journalists Association
Afghanistan Journalists Center
Africa Cybersecurity & Digital Rights Organization (ACDRO)
African Freedom of Information Centre – AFIC
Africa Foundation for Community Development (AFCOD-Uganda)
Africa Open Data and Internet Research Foundation
Africans Rising
Africtivistes
AfroLeadership
Amnesty International
Arab World Internet Institute
ARTICLE 19
ARTICLE19 Eastern Africa
Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS)
Asociacion por los Derechos Civiles
Association Djiboutienne des Droits de l’Homme
Association for Progressive Communications
Asuntos del Sur
Baaroo
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
Bahrain Watch
Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communications
Bareedo Platform Somalia
Bits of Freedom
Bloggers Association of Kenya
Bloggers of Zambia
Blueprint for Free Speech
Body and Data
Bolo Bhi
Briar Project
Bytes for All
Ça Suffit
Cameroon Association of Media Professionals
Campaign for Human Rights and Development International
Center for Democracy and Technology
Center for Media Research Nepal
Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding
Centre for Internet and Society
CHRDA
CIPESA (The Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa)
CIPIT (Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law at Strathmore University)
Collectif #Sasouffit
Committee to Protect Journalists
Common Cause Zambia
Consortium of Ethiopian Rights Organizations
Cyber Arabs
DanChurchAid (DCA)
Đảng Việt Tân
Delhi Union of Journalists
Derechos Digitales
Digital Bridge Institute
Digital Defenders Partnership
Digital Grassroots
Digital Rights Foundation Pakistan
Digital Right Lawyers Initiative
Digital Rights Watch Australia
Digital Security Lab Ukraine
Digital Skills Coalition Belarus
Digital Society of Zimbabwe
Digital Woman Uganda
Digital Paradigm” PF
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Embajadores de Internet
EMPOWER
Engage Media
Enjambre Digital
EPIC
European Centre for Democracy and Human Rights
Eurasian Digital Foundation
Expression Now Human Rights Initiative
Feminism in India
Fight for the Future
Filipino Freethinkers
Foundation for Media Alternatives
Forus
Fundación Internet Bolivia
Free Expression Myanmar
Free Media Movement, Sri Lanka
Free Press
Free Press Unlimited
Freedom Forum Nepal
Freedom House
Freedom of Information Counsel
Freemuse
freenode
Front Line Defenders
Fundacion Via Libre
Fundacja ePaństwo
Gambia Press Union
GetUp!
Global Digital Inclusion Partnership Global Network Initiative
Global Voices
GNU Solidario
GreatFire
Gulf Center for Human Rights
Hack the Climate
Heliopolis Institute
Hiperderecho
Hivos
HRNJ-Uganda
Human Constanta
Human Rights Activists in Iran
Human Rights Centre
Human Rights Consulting Group (HRCG)
Human Rights Foundation
Human Rights Watch
Ideosync Media Combine
ifreedom Uganda
Index on Censorship
Indic project
Inidev International
Institute for Development of Freedom of Information
Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety
Institute for Media and Society
Instituto Prensa y Sociedad de Venezuela
International Federation of Journalists
International Media Support
International Modern Media Institute
International Press Centre
International Press Institute
International Service for Human Rights
Internet Freedom Foundation
Internet Lab
Internet Policy Observatory Pakistan
Internet Protection Society
Internet Sans Frontières
Internet Society
Internet Yetu
Internews
Ipandetec
IRADA
Iraqi Network for Social Media
IT for Change
ITS Rio
Iyina
Jamii Forum
Jhatkaa
Jordan Open Source Association
Journalist Association of Bhutan
KICTANet
Kijiji Yeetu
Kiwix
Korean Progressive Network Jinbonet Kuza STEAM
KrantiKali
Kuza STEAM Generation
La Quadrature du Net LAPLIH
Lebanese Cyberspace Association
Lesbian Gay and Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA Asia)
Liberia Information Technology Student Union
LIRNEasia
Localization Lab
Libyan Crimes Watch (LCW)
Maldives Journalists Association
Media Development Foundation Maldives
Media Foundation for West Africa
Media Institute of Southern Africa
The Media Legal Defence Initiative (MLDI)
Media Matters for Democracy
Media Rights Agenda
Miaan
Myanmar ICT for Development Organization (MIDO)
Namibia Media Trust
Nothing 2 Hide
Open Democracy Advice Centre
Open Knowledge International
Open Observatory of Network Interference
Open Secrets
Open State Foundation
Open Tech Fund
Open Technology Institute and Measurement Lab
OpenMedia
Pacific Freedom Forum
Paradigm Initiative Nigeria
PEN America
PEN Melbourne
PenPlusBytes
Pollicy
Press Union of Liberia
Projet d’action pour une Alternance Crédible au Tchad
Public Knowledge
R3D
Ranking Digital Rights
Reporters Sans Frontières
Réseau des Jeunes Bénévoles des Classiques en Sciences Sociales en Haiti
Réseau des Journalistes Burundais pour la CPI, (RJB-CPI)*
Réseau Ouest Africain des Défenseurs des Droits Humains (ROADDH) West African Human Rights Defenders Network
Right2Know
Ritimo
RNW Media
RosKomSvoboda
Rudi International
Sarawak Report
ShareAction
Sinar Project
Skyline for Human Rights
Small Media
Social Media Exchange
SocialTic
Software Freedom Law Centre
SonTusDatos
South Asia Media Solidarity Network
Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network
Sula Batsu
Sunlight Foundation
Swathanthra Malayalam Computing
Tech for Peace
Thai Netizen Network
The Bachchao Project
Tor
Trop C’est Trop
TVYangu
Ubunteam
Union of Tanzania Press Club
Unwanted Witness
Usuarios Digitales – Ecuador
Venezuela Inteligente
Voices for Interactive Choice and Empowerment (VOICE)
WAKE UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS / AFRICA SECTION
Webfala Digital Skills for all Initiative
Web Foundation
Wikimedia France
Wikimedia Foundation
WITNESS
Women in Information Technology
Women of Uganda Network Working
Woman Journalists Nepal
Xnet
Yemeni Observatory for Freedom
Yodet
Zaina Foundation
Key partners have included regional and international bodies, such as the UN, the European Union, the Freedom Online Coalition, the African Union, and the International Telecommunications Union, as well as internet service providers and digital communications platforms.
If your organization, institution, or company would like to become a campaign partner or friend of the coalition, reach out to #KeepItOn Campaign Manager Felicia Anthonio at felicia@accessnow.org.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Internet shutdowns hit record high in 2024
Myanmar: why is junta shutting down internet?
Why 2024 was the worst year for internet shutdowns
296 internet shutdowns across 54 countries
Cutting the cord: 296 internet shutdowns hit 54 countries in 2024
India saw 84 internet shutdowns in 2024, more than any other democracy: Access Now report
Number of Internet shutdowns highest in 2024 globally, India tops in govt-ordered curbs
Conflicts trigger globe’s highest rate of internet shutdowns in 2024: NGO
India didn’t lead world in internet shutdowns in 2024: Access Now report
Government-forced internet disruptions hit record high
Report: in record year of internet shutdowns, Myanmar leads
The worst year in shutdowns: a blow to democracy and human rights in Africa
Worst year for internet shutdowns: Asia Pacific tops the 2024 shame list
Digital violence in MENA : impunity and internet shutdowns in 2024
Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition’s new report reveals that 41 shutdowns were imposed in 17 countries across the MENA region in 2024.
2024 में किये गए रिकॉर्ड तोड़ इंटरनेट शटडाउन: अधिकारों के हनन में एशिया प्रशांत सबसे आगे
एक्सेस नाउ और #KeepItOn गठबंधन की नई रिपोर्ट ने पाया की पिछले नौ सालों के रिकॉर्ड में, 2024 इंटरनेट शटडाउन के लिए सबसे खराब साल रहा।
အင်တာနက်ပိတ်ဆို့မှုများ အဆိုးဆုံးကြုံရသည့်နှစ် – အာရှပစိဖိတ်ဒေသက ၂၀၂၄ ခုနှစ်အတွက် ရှက်ဖွယ် ကျူးလွန်သူများစာရင်းမှာ ဗိုလ်ဆွဲခဲ့
၂၀၂၄ ခုနှစ်သည် အင်တာနက်ပိတ်ဆို့မှု အဆိုးရွားဆုံး ဖြစ်သည့်နှစ်အဖြစ် တရားဝင် မှတ်တမ်းဝင်သွားသည်။ စံတန်ဖိုးတွေလျော့ကျဖောက်ပြန်လာသည့် …
Learn more about the fight to end internet shutdowns
Resources for activists
Need creative assets for your campaign? Here is a CC4.0-licensed visual toolkit.
Contact us if you would like to contribute to the toolkit or help us localize it.
CONTACT
For media inquiries, contact press@accessnow.org
Felicia Anthonio | #KeepItOn Campaign Manager | felicia@accessnow.org
Zach Rosson | #KeepItOn Data and Research Lead | zach@accessnow.org