GENEVA
\nThe UN called on countries to stop imposing internet shutdowns or disruptions, warning Thursday that they can have dire and even deadly consequences.
\nIn a fresh report, the UN rights office warned that \u201cthe dramatic real-life effects of shutdowns on the lives and human rights of millions of people are vastly underappreciated.\u201d
\n\u201cHospitals being unable to contact their doctors in cases of emergency, voters being deprived of information about candidates, handicraft makers being cut off from customers, and… peaceful protesters who fall under violent attack being unable to call for help\u201d can be just some of the impacts when internet and telecommunications services shut down, it said.
\nUN rights chief Michelle Bachelet pointed out in a statement that such shutdowns are happening at a time when the digital world has become \u201cessential for the realisation of many human rights.\u201d
\n\u2018Dangerous for democracy\u2019
\nThat is particularly concerning since such shutdowns often appear to be accompanied or followed by serious rights violations, including the undermining of the freedom of expression, but also arbitrary arrests and killings.
\nHicks pointed to Iran\u2019s internet blackout in 2019 as authorities cracked down on nationwide protests, the internet shutdown amid demonstrations over Belarus\u2019s contested 2020 elections, and repeated shutdowns since Myanmar\u2019s military coup last year.
\n\u201cOne of the key findings of the report is that when you see a shutdown happen, it\u2019s time to start worrying about human rights,\u201d she said.
\nThe report noted that the #KeepItOn coalition, which monitors shutdown episodes across the world, documented 931 shutdowns between 2016 and 2021 across 74 countries, including some that blocked communications repeatedly and over long periods of time.
\nBut Hicks stressed that it was difficult to gather information about shutdowns, and especially about less comprehensive measures like blocking access to major online platforms and throttling bandwidth or limiting mobile services.
\n\u201cThose are only the tip of the iceberg,\u201d she said.
\nMany governments refuse to acknowledge that they have ordered any interference in communications, and sometimes put pressure on telecommunications companies to prevent them from revealing why communications have been blocked or slowed down.
\nWhen authorities do acknowledge they ordered a shutdown, they often justify this with public safety concerns or the need to contain the spread of hostility or violence or combat disinformation.
\nBut the report showed that the shutdowns often have the opposite effect.
\n\u201cThe shutdowns themselves may contribute to serious abuses by limiting reporting capacity and creating an environment in which violence and impunity can flourish,\u201d Hicks said.
\nShe voiced particular concern over a pattern of internet shutdowns and disruptions used to control information surrounding elections, with at least 52 such cases over the five-year period.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s the moment in time when people most need access to information,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cShutdowns are dangerous for democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
GENEVA The UN called on countries to stop imposing internet shutdowns or disruptions, warning Thursday that they can have dire and even deadly consequences. In a fresh report, the UN rights office warned that \u201cthe dramatic real-life effects of shutdowns on the lives and human rights of millions of people are vastly underappreciated.\u201d \u201cHospitals being […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":268007,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[8897,534,84,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-267981","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world","8":"tag-incalculable","9":"tag-internet","10":"tag-un","11":"tag-united-nations"},"yoast_head":"\n