Fake news and hate speech was the most common official justification used by governments for internet shutdowns in 2019, followed by precautionary measures in second place. Public safety was ranked third. However, official justifications for shutdowns rarely match the actual causes, which frequently include political instability and protests.
Common official justifications used by governments that ordered internet shutdowns worldwide in 2019
Characteristic
Share of instances
Fake news / hate speech
33%
Precautionary measures
30%
Public safety
24%
National security
14%
Sabotage / third-party actions
4%
Unknown
4%
School exams
3%
Technical problems
3%
Other
1%
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Share of instances33%33%30%30%24%24%14%14%4%4%4%4%3%3%3%3%1%1%Fake news / hate speechPrecautionary measuresPublic safetyNational securitySabotage / third-party actionsUnknownSchool examsTechnical problemsOther
You have no right to use this feature.
Make sure to contact us if you are interested in scientific citation.
You can upgrade your account to enable this functionality for all statistics.
This feature is not available with your current account.Request access
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
Access Now. (February 21, 2020). Common official justifications used by governments that ordered internet shutdowns worldwide in 2019 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved January 21, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1096316/government-justifications-for-internet-shutdowns/
Access Now. "Common official justifications used by governments that ordered internet shutdowns worldwide in 2019." Chart. February 21, 2020. Statista. Accessed January 21, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1096316/government-justifications-for-internet-shutdowns/
Access Now. (2020). Common official justifications used by governments that ordered internet shutdowns worldwide in 2019. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: January 21, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1096316/government-justifications-for-internet-shutdowns/
Access Now. "Common Official Justifications Used by Governments That Ordered Internet Shutdowns Worldwide in 2019." Statista, Statista Inc., 21 Feb 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1096316/government-justifications-for-internet-shutdowns/
Access Now, Common official justifications used by governments that ordered internet shutdowns worldwide in 2019 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1096316/government-justifications-for-internet-shutdowns/ (last visited January 21, 2025)
Common official justifications used by governments that ordered internet shutdowns worldwide in 2019 [Graph], Access Now, February 21, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1096316/government-justifications-for-internet-shutdowns/
Profit from additional features with an Employee Account
Please create an employee account to be able to mark statistics as favorites.
Then you can access your favorite statistics via the star in the header.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.