2025: A Record Year for Internet Shutdowns
Shutdowns · 18.09.2026

2025 has officially become the worst year in the history of internet shutdowns. Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition counted 313 deliberate internet disruptions across 52 countries. Not glitches, not accidents — deliberate decisions. A new all-time low.

The numbers from Vodafone's fresh report "Network Shutdowns in a Connected World" speak for themselves. Full internet blackouts increased by 47% in terms of hours compared to 2024. Shutdowns of individual social networks and platforms rose by 66%. Around 800 million people were affected in 2025. Simply cut off from communication.

The economy doesn't benefit from this — it loses nearly $20 billion, with the lion's share of these losses falling on low- and middle-income countries. It hits hardest those who already have it toughest.

At the same time, as the report's authors admit, shutdowns almost never achieve their stated goals. The logic of "cut the internet and things will get safer" doesn't work: emergency communications disappear, cybersecurity monitoring weakens, and disinformation thrives in the resulting information vacuum. Instead of order, you get chaos with an extra step.

In response, Vodafone proposes a Transparent Governance Framework: connectivity shutdowns only as a last resort, only with a clear legal basis, proven necessity, the absence of less severe alternatives, and mandatory independent oversight. Plus public reporting on why it was done in the first place and whether it worked.

It sounds like a basic set of decencies for any government. But the fact that a separate report has to be written about this means it's been far from basic for a long time.

Source: https://www.vodafone.com/news/newsroom/public-policy/network-shutdowns-reach-record-levels-as-vodafone-calls-for-stronger-safeguards