Internet shutdowns reached record levels in 2025, costing economies nearly $20 billion

A new report by Vodafone has revealed that internet shutdowns are imposing growing social, economic and security costs worldwide, with governments often failing to achieve the policy objectives behind the restrictions.

The report, Network Shutdowns in a Connected World, indicated that at least 313 deliberate internet shutdowns were recorded across 52 countries in 2025, making it the worst year on record, according to data from Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition.

Approximately 800 million people were affected by deliberate internet or network restrictions during the year, while the global economic cost of shutdowns was estimated at nearly $20 billion. Low- and middle-income countries bore a disproportionate share of the losses.

The report also found that full internet blackouts lasted 47% more hours in 2025 than in 2024, while single-platform social media shutdowns increased by 66%.

Vodafone said prolonged network restrictions, which can last days, weeks or months, disrupt access to essential services, including emergency communications, healthcare, education platforms and financial systems.

Joakim Reiter, Chief External & Corporate Affairs Officer at Vodafone Group said, “Blanket network shutdowns are never proportionate. But the global scale of shutdowns continues to grow, causing severe and far-reaching consequences for economies and public services. As reliance on connectivity grows, so does the harm and erosion in public trust when it is disrupted.”

The report identified disruptions to healthcare, education, public safety and livelihoods as key social consequences of network shutdowns, with low-income households, rural communities and other vulnerable groups facing greater difficulties accessing alternative communication channels.

“Governments must re-examine their use of internet restrictions and strengthen their safeguards, including wider coordinated action across industry, regulators and civil society. That’s why we’ve set out a practical governance framework to improve transparency, accountability and discipline around shutdowns, ensuring people can remain connected when it matters most.” Added Reiter.

It also challenges the security rationale behind broad connectivity restrictions, arguing that shutdowns can obstruct emergency communications, weaken cybersecurity monitoring and create information gaps that facilitate the spread of misinformation.

Additionally, the report links network shutdowns to reduced activity across sectors and markets, warning that repeated restrictions can generate substantial cumulative losses as economies become increasingly dependent on digital connectivity.

In response, Vodafone has proposed a Transparent Governance Framework that calls for network shutdowns to be treated as exceptional measures of last resort.

Under the proposed framework, governments would need to establish a clear legal basis, demonstrate a legitimate public policy objective, and provide evidence that a restriction is necessary to address a specific and credible threat.

The framework also requires authorities to show that less restrictive alternatives are unavailable and that the expected benefits outweigh the potential social, economic and security harms.

Additional safeguards would include written orders, independent oversight, regular reviews, access to judicial challenge and public reporting on the rationale, impact and effectiveness of restrictions.

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