"Over Four Billion People Affected By Internet Censorship in 2022"

According to new research by VPN provider Surfshark, internet shutdowns affected a total of 4.2 billion people in 2022, with individuals experiencing 112 internet restrictions across 32 countries throughout the year.  Thirty-four of these cases started before 2022, while 78 began during 2022.  The researchers stated that authoritarian governments have turned to internet and social media disruptions to maintain their rule and curb civil unrest, opposing political parties, free speech, and looming socio-economic concerns.  According to the data, the average duration of an internet connection disruption was 33 hours, and the average time of social media censorship was 114 days.  The researchers stated that of the multiple high-profile internet censorship events in 2022, four regions stand out above all others.  Russia, India, Iran, and the Jammu and Kashmir region gained international media coverage for frequent internet and social media disruptions.  In terms of social platforms most targeted by authoritarian governments, Facebook was at the top of the list in 2022, followed by Instagram and TikTok.  The researchers stated that "it's the attack on people's opportunities for growth, knowledge, freedom, and democracy that makes the issue vital and well worth speaking about."

Infosecurity reports: "Over Four Billion People Affected By Internet Censorship in 2022"