The Internet, Switched Off 

When Iranians revolted, their government cut them off from the world. Mobile networks degraded first. Fixed-line disruptions followed. Instead of cutting cables, the authorities interfered with routing and key protocols. As Iran shut down the Internet, Revolutionary Guards crushed the protests, killing thousands. 

It’s not an isolated story. Internet shutdowns are rising fast. In 2016, digital rights groups documented some 75 shutdowns. By 2024, that figure had increased to 296 across 54 countries.