The return of digital authoritarianism: internet shutdowns in 2021

Globally, internet shutdowns are on the rise. According to AccessNow’s #KeepItOn campaign, there were 128 intentional shutdowns between January - July 2019, compared to 196 in all of 2018, and up sharply from 106 in 2017, and 75 in 2016. Around the world, governments, with the cooperation of telecom companies, are increasingly turning to internet shutdowns as a strategy to repress communities, prevent mobilisation, and stop information about human rights violations from being documented .

This toolkit is a practical guide for measuring economic losses across diverse sectors caused by internet shutdowns. It facilitates access to some tools, provides an insight into the methodologies they use and highlights their main features and limitations.