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2024: 167 internet shutdown in 28 countries lasting 88,788 hours and costing $7.69 billion.
India was the most affected nation.
According to thelatest data from Top10VPN, government-imposed internet shutdowns cost $7.69 billion in 2024.
2024 was the year with the highest number of countries affected.
Citizens in 28 countries suffered from 167 major self-imposed internet outages, impacting 648.4 million people.
The Internet disruptions were also the longest ever recorded 88,788 hours, a 12% increase from 2023.
Despite being widespread, social media blocks declined overall in 2024 compared to previous years.
The latter finding was especially surprising, according to Simon Migliano, Head of Research at Top10VPN.
They occur when a government decides to completely shut off the country’s internet.
Every year, several motivations push governments worldwide to pull the plug on the Internet despite the economic repercussions.
Iraq suffered the highest number of internet shutdowns yet again last year, with 61 incidents.
These were all prompted by school exams.
Similarly, the internet outages in Myanmar and Sudan were all linked to conflict.
This is exactly why VPN usage has been skyrocketing globally in 2024.
Over the year,Proton VPNdocumentedspikes in sign-upsin at least 15 countries.
“Shorter but still significant blocks” also occur in Senegal andNew Caledonia.
