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In 2024, elections are on the horizon for 90 countries, with a concerning trend of internet restrictions during electoral periods. <a href="https://surfshark.com/research/chart/elections-vs-internet-restrictions" data-type="URL" data-id="https://surfshark.com/research/chart/elections-vs-internet-restrictions" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Surfshark’s Research</a> Hub delves into the issue, revealing that 12 of these nations, based on their history, may impose restrictions on internet services during elections. Notably, 75% of past interventions involved disrupting network connectivity, and impeding transparent electoral processes by stifling the flow of essential information.
Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia emerge as hotspots for election-related internet censorship. With 29 reported cases since 2015, Sub-Saharan Africa leads, closely trailed by Southern Asia with 28 incidents. Countries in these regions, including Mali, Malawi, Chad, Mauritania, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, face heightened risks of internet blackouts as their elections approach.
As India and Iran gear up for parliamentary elections this spring, concerns arise due to their records of internet clampdowns during past elections. India, with four instances, and Iran, with three since 2015, exhibit worrisome patterns suggesting a potential recurrence of digital communication restrictions.
Belarus enters the election arena with upcoming parliamentary elections, echoing the challenges faced during its recent presidential election. Extensive internet disruptions and strategic blocking of social media, particularly Twitter, underscore the potential impact on political participation and societal dialogue.
Overall, the global scenario raises questions about the commonality of internet restrictions during elections. Among the 90 countries preparing for elections in 2024, the Surfshark analysis reveals a pattern where digital suppression during electoral periods averages a mere 32 points on the global freedom scale, significantly below the worldwide average of 58. This underscores a concerning link between election-related digital censorship and broader infringements on freedom across personal, civil, and economic domains.
Read More: <a href="https://technext24.com/2023/09/20/african-countries-internet-restriction/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://technext24.com/2023/09/20/african-countries-internet-restriction/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">“Stifled Democracy;” Since 2015, 20 African countries have experienced internet shutdowns during elections</a>
<h4 id="digital-democracy-dilemma-in-africa-internet-restrictions-human-rights-and-elections" data-beyondwords-marker="cf853dbe-bd08-43a4-afe9-537d3084b17c">Digital democracy dilemma in Africa: Internet restrictions, human rights, and elections</h4>
Amidst Africa’s diverse political landscape, over 50 countries grapple with governance challenges, including military coups and internet disruptions. Notably, Nigeria’s seven-month <a href="https://technext24.com/2021/06/07/twitter-ban-nbc-orders-channels-arise-tv-and-other-broadcasting-stations-to-stop-using-twitter/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://technext24.com/2021/06/07/twitter-ban-nbc-orders-channels-arise-tv-and-other-broadcasting-stations-to-stop-using-twitter/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Twitter ban </a>incurred significant economic losses, echoing a global trend explored in Surfshark’s report.
Surfshark’s findings highlight a disconcerting pattern, revealing that more than a third of African nations have restricted the internet during elections. Recent cases in Zimbabwe and Gabon exemplify diverse tactics, from complete shutdowns to deliberate internet speed reductions, impacting citizens’ access to information and their ability to scrutinize electoral processes.
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 <figure class="aligncenter size-full" data-beyondwords-marker="a2f5691d-5495-4be1-a4d5-fc187e95e9b1"><img width="800" height="400" src="https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Untitled-design-33.png" alt="Internet restriction looms in Sub-Saharan Africa as several countries gear for elections in 2024" class="wp-image-224849">
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The United Nations emphasizes internet access as a human right, condemning shutdowns and censorship. Surfshark’s detailed spreadsheet sheds light on 20 African countries with internet shutdown experiences since 2015, underscoring varying degrees of disruption.
In this digital age, citizens overcome restrictions with VPNs, emphasizing the importance of free expression. However, the UN’s call to end internet shutdowns faces resistance. As four African countries prepare for elections, scrutiny intensifies, urging leaders to respect citizens’ rights to expression and access information freely.
<h4 id="internet-shutdowns-and-the-global-economy" data-beyondwords-marker="7553a62b-5d5d-4163-a568-517720f3ffa4">Internet shutdowns and the global economy</h4>
Governments globally are growing bolder in imposing internet shutdowns, causing a staggering $42.71 <a href="https://technext24.com/2023/06/14/economic-impact-of-internet-shutdowns/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://technext24.com/2023/06/14/economic-impact-of-internet-shutdowns/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">billion economic loss since 2019</a>, with 445 significant disruptions in 54 countries. In 2023 alone, 65 shutdowns in 13 nations cost the global economy $1.18 billion, underlining a troubling trend.
Ethiopia tops the list in 2023 with a cost of $484.4 million, followed closely by India and Pakistan. The internet, a catalyst for economic growth and innovation, faces increasing disruptions, impacting societies globally.
From 2019 to 2023, the landscape witnessed an alarming rise:
<ul data-beyondwords-marker="32edb997-8dab-4a7e-b314-35ed12338360">
 <li>In 2019: 134 shutdowns across 22 countries cost $8.07 billion.</li>
 <li>In 2020: 93 shutdowns in 21 countries incurred a $4.01 billion loss.</li>
 <li>In 2021: 50 shutdowns in 21 countries cost $5.45 billion.</li>
 <li>In 2022: 114 shutdowns in 23 countries led to a massive $23.84 billion loss.</li>
</ul>
Russia took the hardest hit in 2022 with a cost of $21.59 billion, following the invasion of Ukraine, marked by internet censorship and restrictions on social media platforms.
In 2023 (up to June 6), 65 shutdowns in 13 countries, notably in Ethiopia due to tensions in the Orthodox Church, cost $1.18 billion. This escalating trend highlights the pressing need for international efforts to address the economic and human rights implications of internet shutdowns.
<h5 id="prolonged-internet-shutdowns-in-africa-have-far-reaching-consequences" data-beyondwords-marker="6bd9e104-78ed-48ba-8e25-0b60c3046dee">Prolonged internet shutdowns in Africa have far-reaching consequences. </h5>
They disrupt sectors like e-commerce, finance, and tourism, causing financial losses, supply chain disruptions, and setbacks for businesses. The negative signal of ongoing shutdowns deters international investors, hindering a favorable business environment and raising concerns about data security. 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full" data-beyondwords-marker="0c24fdce-6f76-41f3-bbb1-93e47bda0aa1"><img width="800" height="400" src="https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Untitled-design-34.png" alt="" class="wp-image-224852">
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Marginalized communities face intensified challenges, deepening the digital divide as limited connectivity restricts access to education, job opportunities, and digital skills training. 
Read More: <a href="https://technext24.com/2023/07/31/senegal-blocks-internet-access/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://technext24.com/2023/07/31/senegal-blocks-internet-access/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Senegal blocks internet access again</a>

Internet restriction looms in Sub-Saharan Africa as several countries gear for elections in 2024

Technext.ng

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