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Lives on hold: internet shutdowns in 2024 - Access Now
webaccessnow.org·accessnow.org/internet-shutdowns-2024/
This report documents global internet shutdowns in 2024, relevant to AI safety governance as governments increasingly use digital infrastructure controls—including AI-assisted censorship and surveillance tools—to suppress information. Understanding shutdown patterns informs policy on AI deployment in authoritarian contexts and the intersection of AI with digital rights.
Metadata
Importance: 22/100organizational reportanalysis
Summary
Access Now's annual report documents the scope and scale of internet shutdowns worldwide in 2024, finding a record number of incidents. The report analyzes how governments use connectivity disruptions during political unrest, conflicts, and elections to control information flow, with testimony from affected individuals illustrating real-world harms.
Key Points
- •2024 saw a record number of internet shutdowns globally, continuing an upward trend in government-imposed connectivity disruptions.
- •Shutdowns are frequently deployed during elections, protests, and armed conflicts to suppress information and limit coordination.
- •Affected populations lose access to critical services, safety information, and economic activity during shutdowns.
- •The report highlights the intersection of digital infrastructure control with broader human rights and democratic governance concerns.
- •Testimonies from affected individuals (e.g., Venezuela) illustrate how shutdowns paralyze civil society and personal planning.
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Lives on hold: internet shutdowns in 2024 - Access Now
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