Internet Shutdowns in 2025: India’s Role, Global Trends & Legal Framework

The report “Rising Repression Meets Global Resistance: Internet Shutdowns in 2025” by Access Now records 313 shutdowns across 52 countries the highest ever while India retains the highest cumulative total globally.

• The 65 shutdowns in 2025 impacted 12 states and territories across India.
  • These disruptions were primarily deployed during “protests, conflict, communal violence, and religious holidays

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Key Findings of Report

• India’s Internet Shutdowns: India imposed 65 internet shutdowns in 2025, the lowest number recorded in the country since 2017.
• Regional Concentration (Asia-Pacific): Globally, the Asia Pacific region accounted for the majority of these disruptions, with 195 shutdowns across 11 countries.
• Global Comparison & Ranking: Myanmar overtook India as the world’s leading perpetrator for the second consecutive year with 95 incidents, India’s historical tally remains the highest globally. 
  • Cumulative Global Data: Out of the 2,102 internet shutdowns recorded by Access Now worldwide since 2016, 920 have occurred in India.
• Trend Analysis (India): Data shows a fluctuating but consistently high trend of network disruptions in India over the past decade.
  •  India saw 30 shutdowns in 2016, which more than doubled to 69 in 2017.
• Use of VPNs: The report highlights a growing trend of authorities targeting circumvention tools, such as Virtual Private Networks.
  • VPNs are software applications that allow users to bypass local internet restrictions by masking their online identity and location.

About Internet Shutdown

• An internet shutdown is an intentional disruption of internet or electronic communications, rendering them inaccessible or effectively unusable, for a specific population or within a location, often to exert control over the flow of information.
  

Pros and Cons Of Internet Shutdown

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Provision for Internet shutdown in India

Temporary Suspension of Telecommunication Services Rules, 2024

• The Temporary Suspension of Telecommunication Services Rules, 2024 were issued under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 (“Telecom Act”).
• The Telecom Act replaces outdated laws, including:
  • Indian Telegraph Act, 1885
  • Indian Wireless Telegraph Act, 1933
  • Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1950
• The 2024 Rules supersede the 2017 rules, which were framed under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885.

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Who Can Order an Internet Shutdown?

• At the National Level: The Home Secretary of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has the authority to impose an Internet shutdown.
• At the State Level: The Secretary in charge of the State Home Department is authorized to issue shutdown orders.
• In Unavoidable Cases:  If neither of the above officials is available, a Joint Secretary at the Centre can issue the shutdown order.

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