India tops list of most Internet shutdowns recorded, six years in a row: Report

In 2023, India topped the global charts for Internet shutdowns, recording 116 instances out of the 283 globally reported shutdowns, accounting for 41 percent of the total, according to data analysed by Access Now, an organisation dedicated to digital rights advocacy. This marks the sixth consecutive year that India has topped the list of most Internet shutdowns reported in a year.

Since 2016, of the 1,458 shutdowns recorded by Access Now, India has contributed 53 percent with 773 instances. The number of Internet shutdowns in India surged by 41 percent from 201 in 2022 to 283 in 2023.