Internet Shutdowns in India and Globally
In 2025, India recorded 65 internet shutdowns, marking the lowest number since 2017, but still considered "alarmingly high for a democracy," as per Access Now's report, Rising Repression Meets Global Resistance: Internet Shutdowns in 2025.
India's Internet Shutdown Statistics
- India has a historical tally of 920 shutdowns out of 2,102 recorded worldwide since 2016.
- Shutdowns in India over the years:
- 2016: 30 shutdowns
- 2017: 69 shutdowns
- 2018: 134 shutdowns (peak)
- 2019: 121 shutdowns
- 2020 & 2021: 108 each
- 2022: 85 shutdowns
- 2023: 116 shutdowns
- 2024: 84 shutdowns
- 2025: 65 shutdowns
- The 2025 shutdowns affected 12 states and territories, mainly during protests, conflicts, communal violence, and religious holidays.
Legal and Procedural Context in India
- Shutdown orders are legally required to be published in India.
- The report criticizes India for prioritizing control over democratic processes.
- Authorities are increasingly targeting circumvention tools like VPNs.
Circumvention Tool Crackdown
On December 29, 2025, Jammu and Kashmir enforced a two-month ban on unauthorized VPN use under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, penalizing around 800 users through phone searches.
Global Context and Trends
- Globally, 313 internet shutdowns were documented across 52 countries in 2025.
- Myanmar led with 95 shutdowns, surpassing India.
- The Asia Pacific region accounted for the majority with 195 shutdowns across 11 countries.
- Pakistan also recorded 20 shutdowns, showcasing a trend of using shutdowns during unrests with minimal transparency.
International Advocacy and Conclusion
The Access Now report, backed by 366 organizations from 106 countries, emphasizes that internet shutdowns are being used to cover human rights abuses, urging governments to halt these practices.
