Figures don’t lie. If we hold that statement to be true, then it’s certainly concerning that nearly 4.8 billion people worldwide experienced internet censorship in 2024, according to a comprehensive report by cybersecurity firm Surfshark.
The study revealed a disturbing trend of increasing government-mandated internet restrictions that threaten digital freedom and access to information.
2024 witnessed 116 deliberate internet disruptions globally, with a clear political motivation behind each shutdown. These restrictions weren’t isolated incidents but part of a systematic approach to controlling digital communication, especially during sensitive political moments like elections and protests.
Asia emerged as the epicenter of internet censorship, with seven countries implementing 43 new restrictions affecting 2 billion people. India led the pack, dramatically increasing its internet shutdowns from 11 in 2023 to 23 in 2024.
Other notable Asian nations included Pakistan with 8 cases and Bangladesh and Turkey with 4 cases each.
Africa followed closely, with eight countries introducing 17 new restrictions that impacted 394 million people. Mozambique became a standout case, jumping from zero previous internet restrictions to eight in 2024, primarily in response to political unrest and disputed election results.
Social media platforms bore the brunt of these restrictions, with one-third of all internet shutdowns targeting digital communication channels. Facebook remains the most consistently censored platform, with 46% of the global population experiencing some form of government-imposed Facebook restriction since 2015.
Several countries entered the internet censorship landscape for the first time in 2024, including Comoros, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, and El Salvador. El Salvador’s debut included disrupting Telegram services during national events, while Russia continued its digital crackdown by blocking platforms like Discord and Signal.
In Kenya, the controversial Finance Bill that rocked the country and sparked nationwide protests birthed an entirely new form of activism that was unprecedented locally. By using the power of social media to educate and also showcase the protests, the internet became a refuge for the citizens who were fully intent on exercising their constitutional right to freedom of speech.
However, allegations of censorship on Meta’s platform Facebook began to surface after social media users noticed that content revolving around the protests was being suppressed.
More recently, the government has revealed its intent to create stricter regulation of social media and online platforms, a move that has come under heavy scrutiny by many Kenyans who view this as a first step towards censorship.
