In a stark warning about rising digital authoritarianism in Asia, a new report by digital rights organization Access Now reveals that governments worldwide oversaw a record-breaking number of internet shutdowns in 2024. Myanmar, ruled by a military junta since the 2021 coup, topped the list with 85 shutdowns last year—more than any other country.  

The report, published on (February 24), highlights that authorities in 54 countries implemented at least 296 shutdowns, with conflicts, protests, exams, and elections being the main triggers. The Asia-Pacific region alone accounted for 202 shutdowns, the highest ever recorded for the region.  

Myanmar: A Digital Black Hole Under Military Rule
Myanmar’s military regime has aggressively weaponized internet access as a tool of repression, isolating civilians and silencing dissent. The Access Now report shows that out of the 85 shutdowns in the country last year, 31 were linked to documented human rights violations, and at least 17 coincided with airstrikes against civilians. These actions expose how the junta is using digital blackouts to conceal atrocities, block independent reporting, and suppress resistance.  

Since seizing power in February 2021, the military has consistently targeted press freedom, shutting down independent media outlets, canceling licenses, and imprisoning journalists. The regime justifies these crackdowns under the guise of maintaining "stability" and curbing "fake news." However, the reality is far bleaker—press freedom in East Asia continues to decline, with 26 out of 31 countries in the region witnessing a worsening media landscape, according to Reporters Without Borders.  
Asia’s Digital Authoritarianism on the Rise
Asia is now home to the world’s three worst offenders in internet censorship—Pakistan, India, and Myanmar—accounting for 190 cases, or 64% of all global shutdowns in 2024. India alone recorded 84 shutdowns, despite being the world's largest democracy.  

Raman Jit Singh Chima, Access Now’s Asia Pacific policy director, condemned the trend, stating, "Shutdowns destabilize societies, undermine digital progress, put entire communities at risk, and provide a cloak of impunity for human rights abuses." He further warned that authorities from Myanmar to Pakistan are cutting off people from the world with impunity, signaling an alarming rise in digital authoritarianism.  

A Crisis Beyond Connectivity

Myanmar’s growing digital repression is more than an internet issue—it is a symptom of the junta’s broader assault on democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression. By erasing digital footprints of its brutalities, the regime continues to operate without accountability.  

The international community must recognize these shutdowns for what they truly are: tools of oppression used to silence voices, restrict information flow, and cover up state violence. As Myanmar’s junta tightens its grip on power, it is not just the internet that is being shut down—it is the people's right to truth, resistance, and freedom.
 

BOB Post