Global Digital Repression: Internet Shutdowns as Tools to Suppress Dissent and Violate Human Rights in 2025

Abstract

In 2025, internet shutdowns are increasingly employed as instruments of digital repression, with 296 recorded instances across 54 countries, representing a 35% rise compared to prior yearsenabling governments to suppress dissent, manipulate the flow of information, and infringe upon civil liberties. This study critically examines the legal, human-rights, and governance challenges posed by such shutdowns at both international and national levels. On the international front, indiscriminate internet restrictions violate rights protected under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), particularly Article 19 concerning freedom of expression, and contravene United Nations resolutions that condemn arbitrary limitations on online access. At the national level, the protection of digital rights is inconsistent: while certain judiciaries have recognized the internet as a medium through which fundamental rights can be exercised, statutory frameworks often lack clarity, procedural safeguards, and transparency. Through an in-depth analysis of the landmark case Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India (2020), this research illustrates how courts have begun to implement safeguards, including the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, publication of shutdown orders, and periodic review, while also highlighting gaps in enforcement and compliance. Key issues addressed in this study include the legal standards governing internet suspensions, the effectiveness of judicial and institutional oversight, and the social, economic, and political consequences of prolonged shutdowns. Furthermore, the study explores how international human-rights norms can be incorporated into domestic legislation. By examining comparative legal frameworks, case law, and policy responses, this research proposes a normative approach to strengthen accountability, protect digital rights, and prevent the misuse of internet shutdowns as a tool of repression.