Human rights and technology

2 articles in the Atlas on human rights and technology - Internet Shutdowns and the Law; How Often Do Countries Shut Down the Internet?. When governments order the…

2 articles

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A judge looking serious, and a speaking balloon on a paper, on the ballon a smartphone with a prohibited symbol

Digital Rights 4 min read

Internet Shutdowns and the Law

When governments order the internet off: legal justifications, international law, accountability, and why no VPN can restore a full shutdown.

Classic dinosaur pixel art of Chrome Android smartphones when off-line

Digital Rights 4 min read

How Often Do Countries Shut Down the Internet?

What an internet shutdown is, who orders one, and what the record shows: 313 documented shutdowns across 52 countries in 2025, the highest since tracking began in 2016.