for 27 million people while arresting 112 people and hunting for a Sikh separatist.
“Today, billions of people are subjected to internet restrictions, which continue to increase at an alarming rate,” Surfshark spokesperson Gabriele Racaityte-Krasauske said in a statement. “Internet restrictions often happen in times of political unrest, such as protests, controversial elections, or even military action—which is when people need to be connected to one another the most.
Brazil has a similar service-specific ban: a judge ordered a ban on the messaging platform Telegram. And for years China has imposed the great firewall that blocks access to most Western services and imposes significant censorship—and surveillance—on the local population. While those restrictions are country-wide, most are local, Surfshark says. There were only 10 country-side internet restrictions in the first half of 2023, with 24 regional ones. Countries that imposed complete internet blackouts include Mauritania , Senegal, Sudan, Pakistan and Cuba.The most frequently blocked services include Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Telegram, WhatsApp and TikTok.