Between 2010 and 2012, The Arab Spring it showed that social networks can be a gun revolution for citizens under the yoke dictatorships. However, the mass social protests of those years also caused the autocratic rulers to Internet was to control the population. More than ten years later, this application Freedom of expression is happening more and more often. Only in 2022 governments and other actors Cage At least 187 times in 35 countries, a new record, according to the annual report of the NGO Access Now.
“Applied during shutdowns protestsactive conflicts, school exams, electionsperiods of political instability or high-profile events such as religious holidays or visits by government officials, the ultimate goal of imposing control and silencing voices”. human rights Along with immunity”.
The report, released on Tuesday, confirms that more countries than ever before blocked web access last year. At least since 2016, the year it has been organized for the defense of this organization. digital rights began to examine these cuts. To do this, they took into account forced power outages, slowing internet speed, and suspension of both. telephone networks like banning social platforms.
India, digital censorship
For the fifth year in a row, India The country with the most 84 blockades. ultranationalist Hindu government Narendra Modi He used his control of the internet not only to more easily spread his political propaganda, but also to suppress opposition. Last January, without going any further, New Delhi blocked the digital broadcast of a BBC documentary criticizing the prime minister and removed it from both YouTube like twitter.
In recent years, Modi has given new powers that allow authorities to shut down communication networks. telecommunication listening to messages from citizens in times of protest and banning channels contrary to the official line.
2022 black year
Beyond India, the biggest digital censor, this practice is spreading all over the world. Thus, the number of blocks for internet access in countries other than India exceeded 100 for the first time. Nine countries (Bangladesh, India, Iran, Jordan, Libya, Myanmar, Sudan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine) implemented at least four interruptions, another record. . “During the political upheaval, protest, violence and active conflict, millions of people in these nine countries have faced frequent and serious shutdowns with alarming regularity,” says the Access Now report.
Second country on the list with 22 cuts Ukraine. However, these withdrawal cases were arranged by Russia in its own order. infestation from the neighboring country. during the past year warof these Vladimir Putin Ukraine launched attacks to deliberately destroy its telecommunications infrastructure and cyber attacks Nevertheless, access as a destabilization strategy technology finger allowed Kyiv avoid these interruptions and maintain the context between the Government, the military and the citizens.
Iranianwith 18 cuts and Myanmar, occupying the third and fourth places in the list with 7. Ayatollah’s regime escalates violence digital printing trying to stop the citizen protests that spread across the country after his death tongs amineThe 22-year-old girl was battered by the police for not fully covering her head with a veil. in old condition twistThe military regime implemented long-term network outages of up to 500 days to obscure the resistance against the putschists.
Other countries on the Now Access list are Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Cuba, Russia, Kazakhstan, Sierra Leone, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, ChineseEthiopia, Iraq, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Somaliland, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda and Yemen.
The widespread use of this practice has aroused concern. United Nationsrequired governments not to choose such a drastic path. Not just because it cuts off internet access, but because it could serve to silence these greater atrocities. “It could be a big alarm signal that the state’s situation is deteriorating. human rightsspokesperson Liz Throssell said. UN in Geneva. “Shutdowns are often associated with higher levels of insecurity and other restraints.”