Key takeaways from the study

• Globally, there were 76 new internet restrictions in 2023. 17 of them happened in Africa.
• Senegal imposed the highest number of restrictions in Africa — 5. The restrictions happened following the sentencing of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko.
• Zimbabwe, Gabon and Chad imposed restrictions amid elections.

Surfshark’s internet shutdown yearly recap reveals that Africa was the second most intensive continent in internet restrictions (behind Asia) in 2023. Most internet freedom violations in Africa happened in 4 countries: Senegal (5 cases), Ethiopia, Guinea, and Mauritania (2 cases each).

“Internet shutdowns are commonly used by autocratic regimes to hinder communications, thwart protest organization, and cut people off from loved ones in times of political unrest. During elections, internet restrictions limit the spread of information about candidates, eroding the democratic integrity of elections. Furthermore, amid violent government crackdowns, internet blackouts can effectively prevent the dissemination of critical information regarding human rights abuses to the international community. The increasingly frequent use of internet shutdowns threatens the global foundation of free speech and human rights, dangerously tipping the scale towards oppression and away from democratic accountability.”, says Lina Survila, Surfshark spokeswoman.

Senegal imposed the highest number of restrictions in Africa — 5 

The Senegalese government imposed internet restrictions following the sentencing of  opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. Measures included limiting access to social media platforms and an internet curfew during the summer.

In Ethiopia, access to platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Telegram, and TikTok was restricted in response to protests against the government’s attempt to split the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Guinea and Mauritania also imposed restrictions amid protests and political tensions.

Zimbabwe, Gabon and Chad imposed restrictions amid elections. Somalia, Sudan and Tanzania imposed restrictions amid political tensions as well.

In 2024, elections are scheduled for Mali, Malawi, Chad, and Mauritania. All these countries have a history of internet restrictions during elections, making them vulnerable to further disruptions.

The Internet Censorship Tracker was developed by Surfshark in partnership with internet watchdog NetBlocks.

The research tracks partial and complete internet and social media shutdowns in 196 countries and territories from 2015 onwards.

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Such restrictions compromise the integrity and fairness of elections by enabling governments to exert greater control over the public narrative.

Surfshark’s Research Hub has published an analysis detailing the countries that have been imposing internet restrictions during elections since 2015, and it forecasts those at risk of doing so in 2024.

“Election season often brings a wave of internet shutdowns around the world. As we gear up for an election-packed 2024, our Research Hub has examined internet freedom in 196 countries. We’ve discovered that countries with a history of internet blackouts during elections score an average of just 32 out of 100 on the global freedom scale. As a reminder, this scale measures personal, civil, and economic freedoms. 32 is significantly below the worldwide average of 58. This suggests a strong connection between digital censorship and wider violations of freedom,” says Agneska Sablovskaja, Lead Researcher at Surfshark.

Among the 90 countries gearing up for elections in 2024, 12 have a history of imposing restrictions on internet services during election times. Since 2015, a significant 75% of these interventions involved severing network connectivity. This tactic does more than just mute online conversations — it disrupts the flow of information essential for transparent electoral processes. The other measures have primarily concerned social media blackouts, which hinder the citizens’ ability to communicate, organize, and voice their objections.

Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia in the spotlight

Internet freedom is heavily affected in specific parts of the world. Sub-Saharan Africa leads with 29 reported cases of election-related internet censorship since 2015, closely followed by Southern Asia with 28 incidents. The impending 2024 elections loom large over countries in these areas — Mali, Malawi, Chad, and Mauritania in Sub-Saharan Africa and India, Iran, Pakistan, and Bangladesh in Southern Asia.

These trends suggest a strategic use of digital suppression tactics in these regions, which, coupled with their histories, indicate a heightened risk for internet blackouts as their elections draw near.

Since 2020, Pakistan has exhibited a concerning pattern where internet restrictions are directly linked to opposition-related events, raising the possibility that such tactics could recur in upcoming elections.

Notably, Pakistan is ranked fourth globally for total internet disruptions, with 17 documented cases, and third in Asia.

Beginning from 2022, Pakistan has seen a series of internet clampdowns, with eight incidents all aimed at stifling the activities surrounding the opposition party and its leader, Imran Khan.

The years 2022, 2023, and 2024 have seen three, four, and one restriction so far respectively, most of which targeted social media or messaging services.

The spring season poses significant challenges for India and Iran, which are preparing for parliamentary elections in the shadow of their records of internet clampdowns.

India has had four such instances and Iran three, since 2015. All of this creates a worrying pattern that these countries might resort to similar tactics to stifle digital communication in upcoming elections.

Belarus is also stepping into the election arena with its upcoming parliamentary elections. The country’s latest presidential election was significantly affected by extensive internet disruptions and the strategic blocking of social media channels, particularly Twitter — a vital platform for political participation and societal dialogue.