The report also says this is the first time in six years that India was not named as the country which saw the most number of Internet shutdowns in the world.

“Despite a modest decrease in shutdowns from 2023 (116 Internet shutdowns), India still imposed 84 in 2024, the most disruptions ordered in a democracy that year,” the report published on Monday read.

In India, 16 states and territories experienced a shutdown, with Manipur (21) in top followed by  Haryana (12) and Jammu & Kashmir (12). Of the 84, total 41 shutdowns were related to protests, and 23 were related to communal violence.

Five Internet shutdowns were imposed by authorities during examinations conducted for government jobs last year, says the report.

In 2024, a total 296 shutdowns were documented in 54 countries. This continues a sharp uptick in the number of total shutdowns compared to 2023 where a total 283 shutdown took place.

“Year after year, conflict, protests, elections, and exams have been the most consistent contexts in which authorities have imposed shutdowns” , said the report.

The total number of Internet shutdowns across the world have increased from 283 shutdowns by 39 countries in 2023 to 296 shutdowns by 54 countries in 2024.

Pakistan stood third place with 21 shutdowns followed by Russia at 13, Ukraine at 7, Palestine at 6, and Bangladesh at 5.

“Myanmar, India, and Pakistan together accounted for over 64 per cent of all recorded shutdowns in 2024,” the report said.

The report recommended that countries with a history of internet shutdowns should conduct investigations, pursue accountability, and ensure remedy and redress for those harmed.

“ Governments and the international community must hold perpetrators of gross human rights abuses and crimes against humanity under the cover of internet shutdowns, as well as their enablers, to account through any and all available avenues of justice,” the report suggested.