Not a single day went by in 2025 without some corner of the world being plunged into digital darkness. Last year set a new record for deliberate internet blackouts. The #KeepItOn coalition’s latest report, ‘Rising repression meets global resistance: Internet shutdowns in 2025,’ paints a grim picture.
At least 313 shutdowns. 52 countries. And the Asia Pacific? That region accounted for a whopping 195 of those outages. Across 11 countries. It’s a majority. By a landslide.
Myanmar. Again. For the second year running, this nation endured the most shutdowns: 95. The military junta weaponized them. An instrument of war. Imposed during active conflict. Silencing voices. Costing lives. When that earthquake hit in March 2025, rescue efforts were crippled. Communications? Dead. Lives? At even greater risk. This isn’t just inconvenience; it’s obstruction of aid.
And the democracies? They’re not immune. India, a supposed beacon, clocked 65 shutdowns. Pakistan, 20. It’s become the go-to response. For protests. Religious events. Sensitive political moments. Transparency? Accountability? Forget about it.
Cross-Border Chaos
This isn’t just a national problem anymore. Thai and Chinese authorities, for instance, pulled the plug on connectivity impacting Myanmar and Cambodia. Shutting down the internet is spilling over borders. A worrying trend. It means your neighbor’s repression can become your problem.
Afghanistan offers another stark example. Authorities there systematically sealed off a population already under tight control. Women and girls, stripped of one of the last lifelines to information. Repression, by design. Pure and simple.
Then there’s Nepal. They blocked social media platforms. Ignited protests. The response? Lethal force. Over 75 killed. 2,000 injured. The ban was reversed, yes. But the damage was done. A crisis that spiraled into violence. And political collapse. All thanks to a digital gag order.
India’s disconnect. They claim control over voices. But shutdowns are inherently anti-democratic. It’s a choice. A deliberate one.
Even Starlink isn’t safe. Myanmar’s junta is going after satellite internet. Arrests. Confiscations. Closing access points. Targeting the alternative. Because they can’t control what they can’t see.
But there are glimmers. Bangladesh is proposing legislation to ban shutdowns entirely. Advocacy is gaining traction. Pushback is happening.
Here’s the thing: The argument that shutdowns are necessary for security or stability is wearing thinner than a cheap suit. When a government’s first instinct is to cut off communication, it doesn’t speak to strength. It speaks to fear. Fear of its own people. Fear of information. This isn’t a tool of governance; it’s a tool of oppression. And the Asia Pacific is its current epicenter.
Why Does This Matter for Developers?
For developers and anyone building services for regions experiencing these shutdowns, it’s a logistical nightmare. Designing for intermittent connectivity is one thing. Designing for complete, deliberate blackouts is another. It means considering offline-first architectures not as an afterthought, but as a foundational principle. It also means understanding the political climate, as API access and platform availability can vanish overnight. Trust in platforms can erode quickly when access is so precarious.
The Cost Beyond Connectivity
The report details 195 shutdowns in 11 countries, with Myanmar leading the charge at 95 incidents. India’s 65 shutdowns and Pakistan’s 20 highlight a disturbing normalization. But beyond the raw numbers, consider the human cost. Emergencies obstructed. Protests met with violence. Information access denied, particularly for vulnerable groups like women and girls in Afghanistan. The report quotes a chilling observation about the impact of these disruptions:
In March 2025, ongoing shutdowns severely undermined rescue and emergency response efforts following a devastating earthquake.
This isn’t an abstract data point. It’s a direct consequence of a government’s decision to switch off the internet. Lives hang in the balance.
The normalization of internet shutdowns is a direct affront to fundamental rights. It’s a tactic to control narratives and suppress dissent. And the Asia Pacific region is unfortunately leading this charge. As the report shows, the expansion of this playbook, including cross-border impacts, suggests a coordinated effort to control information flow. The question isn’t if these shutdowns will continue, but how the global community will respond to this escalating repression.
