{"id":296060,"date":"2024-08-14T13:47:51","date_gmt":"2024-08-14T13:47:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/?p=296060"},"modified":"2024-08-14T13:47:51","modified_gmt":"2024-08-14T13:47:51","slug":"when-governments-shut-down-the-internet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/when-governments-shut-down-the-internet","title":{"rendered":"When Governments Shut Down the Internet"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you instinctively reach for your smartphone from the moment you awake? It’s easy to take for granted that an online connection provides you with the weather for the day, the latest news, work messages, and instant communication<\/a> with anyone in the world.<\/p>\n

But try to imagine if increasing political unrest prompts your government to shut down the internet and your access to cellular data.<\/p>\n

There is a worrying trend emerging where internet shutdowns<\/a> are being increasingly normalized. Examples can be found as far back as Egypt’s 2011 revolution and a failed Turkish military coup in 2016. Belarus also went offline during an election<\/a>, and more recently, many people found themselves caught in crossfire in the Gaza Strip and unable to communicate or get news updates.<\/a><\/p>\n

Given motives can be anything from preventing the spreading of misinformation to silencing critics of an authoritarian government.<\/p>\n

But in a world where access to the internet may be seen as a necessity, we investigate the rising trend of internet shutdowns and how they can occur when you least expect them.<\/p>\n

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Key Takeaways<\/span><\/h2>\n