Internet Shutdowns Tracker

South Asia Shutdowns Tracker

This tracker documents instances of internet shutdowns and blocking of access to social media platforms in South Asia.

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Showing 22 events.

Country	Region / City	Networks Affected	Time Period	Status	Source
Pakistan	Regional	Internet Services	25 May 2022 - 25 May 2022	Ended	Reference
Internet service in Pakistan was limited following protests organized by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who became the first leader in the country’s history to be removed from office in a no-confidence motion in parliament on April 10.
Sri Lanka	Country-wide	Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Telegram, Twitter, WhatsApp	02 Apr 2022 - 03 Apr 2022	Ended	Reference
Sri Lanka blocked access to social media platforms after the government declared a state of emergency and nationwide curfews to contain protests triggered by the ongoing economic crisis in the country. The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission imposed the restrictions on the instruction of the Ministry of Defence. It covered all of Sri Lanka’s major network operators, including Dialog, Hutch, Mobitel, and Sri Lanka Telecom. Cutting off Internet services in times of crisis makes it difficult for people to communicate with loved ones to check on their safety, and leaves them with fewer avenues to obtain accurate information. It can also block access to much-needed emergency services.
Bangladesh	Country-wide	3G and 4G mobile networks	14 Oct 2021 - 15 Oct 2021	Ended	Reference
Bangladesh mobile operators GrameenPhone, Robi Axiata and Banglalink were ordered to shut down 3G and 4G services in the wake of attacks on religious sites in an attempt to quell rising violence. Internet shutdowns during protests or civil unrest impact the ability of citizens to get accurate information from government sources when they need it most. It also becomes harder for citizens to contact family members and friends in other parts of the country, or in other countries.
Pakistan	National	Twitter, YouTube, WhatsApp, Telegram, TikTok, Facebook	16 Apr 2021 - 16 Apr 2021	Ended	Reference
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, acting on orders from the Interior Ministry, blocked major social media platforms nationwide for four hours amid violent Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protests over France's publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad. The PTA confirmed the block and later restored access.
Bangladesh	Country-wide	Broadband, Facebook, Mobile	26 Mar 2021 - 27 Mar 2021	Ended	Reference
There are reports that Facebook and its messaging app have been restricted in Bangladesh since Friday, 26 March 2021. Reports suggested that the services were being blocked owing tp the two-day visit of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's to the country, which had led to protests.
Bangladesh	Districts bordering India and Myanmar	Internet Services, Mobile phone services	31 Dec 2019 - 02 Jan 2020	Ended	Reference
The Bangladeshi Telecommunication Regulatory Commission ordered telecommunication service providers (Grameenphone, Teletalk, Robi and Banglalink) to suspend network coverage in districts bordering with India and Myanmar. The shutdown of roughly 2,000 mobile phone towers affected 32 border districts, with roughly 10 million mobile phone subscribers. The order was issued in response to the passage of India's Citizenship Amendment Act in the Parliament and owing to concerns that an influx of migrant population from India.
Bangladesh	Camp locations in Teknaf and Ukhiya in Cox’s Bazar	Internet Services	09 Sep 2019 - 28 Aug 2020	Ended	-
Internet restrictions imposed on camp locations in Teknaf and Ukhiya in Cox’s Bazar limited communications and access to information for nearly one million Rohingya refugees, and prevented humanitarian and aid organizations from providing assistance, including emergency services to those residing in the camps. The shutdown extended to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Internet blackout had impeded timely intervention to stop the spread of measles in the camps in January 2020, leaving a dozen children dead. It has likewise prevented refugees from communicating, and receiving news on conditions in Rakhine State from their loved ones who are still in Myanmar.
Pakistan	Lahore, Karachi and other cities along procession routes	Mobile internet	07 Sep 2019 - 10 Sep 2019	Ended	Reference
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority imposed mobile internet shutdowns along Ashura procession routes across multiple cities.
Bangladesh	Refugee Camps in Cox Bazar district and peninsula adjoining the Naf River	Curfew style downgrading of 3G and 4G internet from 5pm until 6am	02 Sep 2019 - 09 Sep 2019	Ended	-
The order cut Internet services off completely in camps where Rohingya refugees were residing, and restricted the sale of mobile phones, SIM cards and services to Rohingya refugees. Blocking Internet access in areas where a humanitarian crisis is in full swing has detrimental consequences on aid agencies who need reliable access to coordinate, on the refugees themselves, many of whom depend on the Internet to communicate with loved ones and receive financial support from relatives around the world, and the local population in the areas where the Internet is being restricted.
Sri Lanka	Country-wide	Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Viber, WhatsApp, YouTube	13 May 2019 - 17 May 2019	Ended	Reference
Sri Lanka had banned social media again following a reported flare-up in religious tensions, three weeks after a series of suicide bombings rocked the country. The platforms were blocked to prevent “social unrest via hate messages and false information."

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