Technology · 21 February 2026
Internet shutdowns get cheaper, easier for governments to impose
Governments are increasingly shutting down the internet, leading to a splinternet. Iran, Russia, China, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Pakistan have experimented with internet shutdowns. In 2025, Russia's internet shutdown cost their economy $11.9 billion. Internet shutdowns affect employment, education, healthcare, banking, press coverage, and humanitarian help.
Reported by The Guardian · How we write briefs