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Internet Shutdowns: 2026 Tracker, Map and Latest Reports

Updated · 29 Oct 2026

Governments ordered at least 313 internet shutdowns in 52 countries in 2025, the most since tracking began in 2016 (Access Now, March 2026). In 2026 the longest so far was Iran's: about 88 days, from 28 February to 26 May. Below are the 10 shutdowns of 2026 we could confirm with a source, the blocks still listed as in force, and the latest media reports.

Shutdowns and blocks listed as in force

As listed by Internet Society Pulse on 29 October 2026. A listing does not mean every network is blocked all the time; see each source.

  1. Gabon: the media regulator orders an indefinite block of Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, TikTok and YouTube during cost-of-living protests2026-02-18 · reported by Internet Society PulseIN FORCE
  2. Uganda: Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger blocked after the election, by order of the communications regulator2026-01-17 · reported by Internet Society PulseIN FORCE
  3. Pakistan: mobile data restrictions in Balochistan, listed as ongoing (Pulse rates it unconfirmed)since 2024-11-15 · reported by Internet Society PulseIN FORCE
  4. Togo: social media restrictions since the June 2025 protests, listed as ongoing (Pulse rates it unconfirmed)since 2025-06-26 · reported by Internet Society PulseIN FORCE
  5. Russia: blocks on major foreign platforms in place since 2022, listed as ongoingsince 2022 · reported by Internet Society PulseIN FORCE
313
Internet shutdowns in 2025
52 countries, Access Now
88 days
Iran's 2026 war blackout
28 Feb to 26 May 2026
10
2026 shutdowns in our log
each with a source
$19.7B
Estimated cost of shutdowns in 2025
Top10VPN

Map of internet shutdowns, 2025-2026

[ fig. 1 ] INTERNET SHUTDOWNS AND BLOCKS (DATED, WITH SOURCES)National shutdownRegional or mobileSocial media block
World map of internet shutdowns in 2025 and 2026
16 events from Sep 2025 to Oct 2026 · bigger dot = in force or 30+ days · log updated 29 Oct 2026Tap a point for details · pinch or ctrl + scroll to zoomTrack this live in the app ›

Internet shutdown news: latest media reports

No matching media reports in the past 3 weeks. The 2026 log below lists every confirmed shutdown with its source.

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2026 internet shutdown log (and late 2025)

  1. Ethiopia: Tigray region cut off for about 10 days as fighting resumed (government-directed)2026-Q3 · reported by Cloudflare Q3 2026 disruption summaryDATED
  2. Iraq: nationwide exam shutdowns, 06:00-07:30 local time on exam days, 20 May to 1 July and 26 August to 28 September2026-05-20 · reported by Internet Society PulseDATED
  3. Sudan: ten national exam shutdowns of about 3.5 hours each, 13 to 23 April2026-04-13 · reported by Cloudflare Q2 2026 disruption summaryDATED
  4. India: mobile internet suspended in five districts of Manipur, 7 to 18 April; India orders more regional shutdowns than almost any other country2026-04-07 · reported by Internet Society PulseDATED
  5. Republic of the Congo: near-total national blackout of about 60 hours during the presidential election; the authorities gave no explanation2026-03-15 · reported by Cloudflare Q1 2026 disruption summaryDATED
  6. Iran: nationwide blackout from the first day of the war, 28 February; traffic falls to well under 1% of normal. Restoration starts on 26 May, after about 88 days2026-02-28 · reported by Cloudflare Q2 2026 disruption summary and The HillDATED
  7. Gabon: the media regulator orders an indefinite block of Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, TikTok and YouTube during cost-of-living protests2026-02-18 · reported by Internet Society PulseDATED
  8. Uganda: Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger blocked after the election, by order of the communications regulator2026-01-17 · reported by Internet Society PulseDATED
  9. Uganda: nationwide shutdown ordered by the regulator two days before the 15 January election, citing misinformation; partly back after about 4 days, fully restored 26 January2026-01-13 · reported by Cloudflare Q1 2026 disruption summaryDATED
  10. Iran: nationwide blackout during mass protests, including mobile data and international calls; near zero until 21 January, partial and filtered return from 27 January2026-01-08 · reported by Cloudflare Q1 2026 disruption summary and Access NowDATED
  11. Tanzania: national shutdown on election day, traffic down more than 90%; fully back on 3 November2025-10-29 · reported by Cloudflare Q4 2025 disruption summaryDATED
  12. Afghanistan: the Taliban cut internet access nationwide for about 48 hours, after weeks of regional fibre cuts2025-09-29 · reported by Cloudflare Q3 2025 disruption summaryDATED
  13. Nepal: Facebook, X, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube and other platforms blocked for about 5 days; protests followed2025-09-03 · reported by Internet Society PulseDATED

Key context

Internet shutdowns in 2025 by the numbers

Access Now's #KeepItOn report, published on 31 March 2026, counted at least 313 shutdowns in 52 countries in 2025, up from 304 in 2024 and 289 in 2023. 75 shutdowns in 33 countries carried on into 2026 (Access Now).

Shutdowns in 2025 by country, top 8. Source: Access Now, #KeepItOn 2025 report.
CountryShutdowns in 2025
Myanmar95
India65
Pakistan20
Russia19
Iran11
Tanzania8
Iraq7
Palestine7

Why governments cut the internet

Shutdowns in 2025 by trigger. Source: Access Now.
TriggerShutdownsCountries
Conflict12514
Protests6419
Elections128
School exams116

Iran 2026: the longest national blackout

Iran cut the internet twice in 2026. During mass protests it shut down nationwide on 8 January, including mobile data and international calls; traffic stayed near zero until 21 January and came back partly, and heavily filtered, from 27 January (Cloudflare; Access Now).

When the US and Israel struck Iran on 28 February, Iran cut the internet again from about 07:00 UTC. Traffic fell to well under 1% of normal, while officials and state media kept access through whitelisted connections. NetBlocks called it a government measure, not war damage, and by April the longest nationwide shutdown it had recorded. Access began to return on 26 May 2026, after about 88 days (Cloudflare; The Hill).

Exam shutdowns

Some governments cut the internet for hours on exam days to stop cheating. In 2026 Iraq cut it nationwide from 06:00 to 07:30 local time on exam days from 20 May to 1 July and from 26 August to 28 September (Internet Society Pulse), and Sudan held ten national exam shutdowns from 13 to 23 April (Cloudflare). In 2025, Access Now counted 11 exam shutdowns in 6 countries.

Types of shutdowns

How we build this tracker

We list a shutdown only when a named source reports it: Access Now, Internet Society Pulse, Cloudflare's quarterly disruption reports or a major news outlet. Each row links to that source. We restate the facts in our own words and do not republish anyone's dataset. The media reports list above updates automatically; the log is checked and extended by hand.

We do not show live traffic measurements from Cloudflare Radar or IODA, because their licences do not allow use on a commercial site. Their public dashboards are the best place to watch a shutdown as it happens.

Questions and answers

What is an internet shutdown?
A deliberate disruption of internet access or of specific apps by a government or on its order, for a whole country, a region or a group of people. It can be a full blackout, a cut of mobile data only, a block on social media, or heavy slowing (throttling).
Which country has the most internet shutdowns?
In 2025, Myanmar (95) and India (65), ahead of Pakistan (20), Russia (19) and Iran (11), by Access Now's count. Most of India's shutdowns are regional mobile-data cuts, ordered by state or district authorities.
Is Iran's internet still shut down?
Not nationwide. Iran began to restore access on 26 May 2026, after a blackout of about 88 days that began with the war on 28 February (Cloudflare; The Hill). Traffic came back slowly: on 27 May it was about 40% of normal (Cloudflare). Iran also cut the internet for about three weeks during protests in January 2026.
Why do governments shut down the internet?
In 2025, Access Now counted 125 shutdowns tied to conflict, 64 to protests, 12 to elections and 11 to school exams. Governments usually say they want to stop misinformation, violence or cheating; rights groups say shutdowns hide abuses and harm health, business and safety.
How much do internet shutdowns cost?
Top10VPN estimates that shutdowns cost the world economy about $19.7 billion in 2025. During Iran's 2026 blackout, Iran's Chamber of Commerce put the direct cost at $30-40 million per day (The National, 27 May 2026).
Can people get online during a shutdown?
During a full blackout, no ordinary connection works, and a VPN does not help because there is no connection to tunnel through. During a block on specific apps, VPNs often work. Satellite internet can bypass a shutdown, but it can be restricted too: Access Now counted 14 shutdowns affecting satellite internet in 7 countries in 2025.

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Sources

Page built 12:38 UTC, 2026-10-29. Full list: data sources and method.