An Internet shutdown is 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.
Any disruption to the Internet, no matter its duration, has a detrimental effect on the economy and employment. Internet shutdowns disrupt productivity, prevent e-commerce from happening, generate monetary losses in time-sensitive transactions, and increase unemployment. Internet shutdowns erode trust in the Internet as a reliable and neutral space for communication, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas, undermining its potential as an engine for positive social change.