India Once Again The Country With Most Internet Shutdowns: Study

New Delhi: India has emerged as the country with highest number of Internet shutdowns for the fourth consecutive year, according to a report released by tech policy thinktank Access Now.

The reasons range from curbing protests to preventing online frauds.

As many as 85 of the 106 shutdowns took place in Jammu & Kashmir.

“In 2021, authorities deliberately shut down the Internet at least 182 times across 34 countries. India is the world’s largest offender, and blacked out the Internet at least 106 times,” the report states.

In 2020, though, the number of shutdowns was higher — 109, out of 155 overall 155 globally.

India is followed in the 2021 shutdown list by Myanmar (15 times), Sudan and Iran (5 times each).

“India is among at least 18 governments that imposed mobile Internet shutdowns during protests, including farmers’ protests. India also shut down the Internet at least four times to stop students from cheating on exams,” the report mentions.

Internet shutdowns cost India $2.8 billion, according to a report released by Top10VPN, a global digital privacy and research group.