The Consequences of Internet Shutdowns: Regional Perspectives

Join us in this multi-stakeholder discussion

This is an opportune moment to bring the community together to discuss the consequences and costs of shutdowns – from an economic, societal and an infrastructure development perspective.

  • USD $6,479,858 – the estimated cost of the 4.5 day Ugandan Internet shutdown in January.
  • 52.72 million – the number of mobile subscribers in Delhi estimated to have been affected by the recent shutdown during farmer protests in January.
  • 32 days – the length of the ongoing shutdown in Myanmar.

This data has been drawn from our platform, Internet Society Pulse.

In a time where we are relying on the Internet more than ever, Internet shutdowns are being increasingly used across the world – driven largely by political and national security concerns. In this event, we brought together experts in technology, policy, digital rights, and Internet measurement to understand the multidimensional consequences and costs of shutdowns.

The event also featured a demo of our new platform, Internet Society Pulse where we curate data from trusted sources to help everyone understand  the economic and human impact of Internet shutdowns, as well as the health, availability and evolution of the global Internet. 

  • Confirmed speakers
    • Felicia Anthonio, Campaigner and #KeepItOn Lead, Access Now
    • Samuel Woodhams, Digital Rights Researcher, Top10VPN
    • Devdutta Mukherjee, Lawyer, experience litigating internet shutdowns before Indian courts. Former Associate Counsel (Litigation) at Internet Freedom Foundation
    • Hanna Kreitem, ‎Senior Advisor, Internet Technology and Development, MENA, Internet Society 

This exclusive Organization Membership event was moderated by Loyce Witherspoon, Community Engagement Manager at the Internet Society.

Date and Time

12:00 – 13:00 UTC

Wednesday 07 April 2021

Related articles

See all articles
Internet Shutdowns: How to Undermine Trust in the Network of Networks
The Consequences of Internet Shutdowns: Regional Perspectives Thumbnail
Measuring the Internet 17 February 2021

Internet Shutdowns: How to Undermine Trust in the Network of Networks

The Indian government’s recent Internet shutdown during farmer protests impacted over 50 million residents. It is a stark warning of...

New Year, New Name: Insights Platform Is Now Internet Society Pulse
The Consequences of Internet Shutdowns: Regional Perspectives Thumbnail
Measuring the Internet 1 March 2021

New Year, New Name: Insights Platform Is Now Internet Society Pulse

In order to align better with the Internet Society’s brand strategy, and to further differentiate our platform from other products...

Related resources

See all resources
Internet Society Position on Internet Shutdowns
Measuring the Internet 17 December 2019

Internet Society Position on Internet Shutdowns

The Internet Society believes Internet shutdowns harm societies, economies, and the global Internet infrastructure.