Pakistan emerged as the hardest-hit country, experiencing an economic loss of $1.62 billion due to nearly 10,000 hours of internet disruptions. Myanmar and Sudan followed closely, suffering losses of $1.58 billion and $1.12 billion, respectively. Additionally, Iraq reported the highest number of internet shutdowns (61), primarily during school exams, for the second consecutive year.
The report noted a significant shift towards complete internet blackouts in contrast to social media-specific shutdowns. This shift likely reflects governments’ realization that citizens can circumvent social media blocks using VPNs. Simon Migliano, head of research at Top10VPN, stated, “It may be more effective to cut internet access completely, but it’s significantly more damaging to people’s livelihoods and ability to communicate.”
In 2024, Asia accounted for a significant portion of the global internet shutdowns, with the region’s economic cost totaling $4.64 billion, affecting more than 331 million people.
Myanmar and Pakistan experienced some of the longest recorded shutdowns, with Myanmar’s internet effectively cut off for over 8,700 hours. Governments increasingly targeted specific platforms rather than entire networks. ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) topped the list as the most blocked social media platform, suffering 20,322 hours of disruption across 11 countries, followed by TikTok with 8,115 hours of blocking.
The primary reason behind these targeted shutdowns was to suppress political movements, control public narratives, and curb freedom of expression. The global implications of these shutdowns are profound. From $4.01 billion in 2020 to $24.61 billion in 2022, the financial toll of internet blackouts on the global economy has escalated, affecting millions and disrupting various industries.
Simon Migliano emphasized the need for international action, suggesting that the global community should consider economic sanctions on governments that deliberately cut internet access. “The international community should consider imposing economic sanctions on governments that deliberately cut internet access for its own people. It should be treated in the same way as governments withholding electricity, fuel or even food and water from people.
It simply causes unnecessary hardship and infringes on their human rights,” Migliano said. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, addressing the media in Islamabad on January 7, claimed that the internet in Pakistan is “much better and cheaper” compared to several other countries. He dismissed recent reports alleging that internet outages in the country had resulted in massive financial losses last year.
Internet disruptions heavily impact Pakistan’s economy
In the latter half of 2024, users frequently experienced sluggish speeds, difficulty downloading media on WhatsApp, and intermittent connectivity issues. Digital analysts suggested the government had been testing systems to monitor platforms and block content.
However, the government denied throttling the internet, asserting it was updating its web management system for enhanced cybersecurity. “You won’t find cheaper internet than we have here,” he added, emphasizing improvements in the national internet infrastructure. He acknowledged minor glitches in the past but argued that these issues have been resolved.
On the other hand, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja highlighted a 33 percent growth in Pakistan’s exports over the past five months, a milestone she deemed unattainable if internet interruptions were a persistent issue. She also noted a 25 percent increase in internet users from 2023 to 2024, attributing this to the dedicated efforts of the IT ministry to enhance internet connectivity. Bilawal Bhutto, leader of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), has questioned the government, which his party is a part of, over internet disruptions, amusingly asking why fish seem to only eat Pakistan’s internet cables.
A viral video shows Bhutto questioning, “Why do the fish in our oceans seem to eat only the internet cables of Pakistan?” This comment was in response to a statement by the country’s telecommunication authority that internet services had been disrupted due to malfunctioning undersea cables. Several Pakistani netizens took to social media to highlight Bhutto’s perceived hypocrisy in criticizing the very government his party helps govern. One user commented, “This is what we call ‘Noora Khusti’ in Pakistan.
He wants to enjoy the benefits of being part of the coalition while getting PPP’s cases cleared, yet he occasionally takes jabs at the government. The people of Pakistan are no longer fooled by these tactics.”
Another user added, “Your father is President of the country and you are an MNA…How many times have you and your father raised your voice on this issue of internet? Stop playing ‘Halki Phulki Opposition’; remember you are in Hukumat.”
Some agreed with Bhutto’s comments and joined in to mock the government.
One user said, “Machali nahi shark hai usko Army kehte hai pakistan army” (It is not fish but a shark, called the Pakistani army). Another user remarked, “Yeah cyber attacks hota thay. Hum masoom machaliya keh daitay thay,” (These are cyber attacks and we are blaming the innocent fish).
This candid questioning by Bhutto has caused a stir, reflecting the ongoing complexities and contradictions within Pakistan’s political landscape.
Rashan is a seasoned technology journalist and visionary leader serving as the Editor-in-Chief of DevX.com, a leading online publication focused on software development, programming languages, and emerging technologies. With his deep expertise in the tech industry and her passion for empowering developers, Rashan has transformed DevX.com into a vibrant hub of knowledge and innovation. Reach out to Rashan at [email protected]
