Introduction
The internet has fundamentally transformed the world by revolutionising how people communicate, access information and participate in public life. It has replaced slow and costly traditional communication methods with instant, low-cost and high-speed digital interactions. Through email, social media and video conferencing, individuals, businesses and institutions can communicate in real time across geographical boundaries, enabling continuous connectivity for social, economic and educational purposes (Castells, 2010). This transformation has reshaped global society by shrinking distance, accelerating information exchange and embedding digital communication into everyday life.
How the Internet has shaped the information ecosystem
At the core of this transformation is the internet’s impact on information dissemination. The information industry has shifted from physical, centralised and top-down systems to a digital-first, decentralised ecosystem characterised by instant access and mass participation. Traditional media organisations have been forced to adapt as individuals, small organisations and independent actors gained the ability to produce and distribute content at scale (Reuters Institute, 2023). Information is now available on demand, globally and continuously, changing how news is consumed and how public opinion is formed.
This digital shift has revolutionised information systems in concrete ways. Real-time news updates and social media reporting have reduced reliance on newspapers and scheduled broadcasts, allowing audiences to follow events as they unfold anywhere in the world. Knowledge has been decentralised through platforms such as Wikipedia, digital archives and online research databases, while e-learning platforms and massive open online courses (MOOCs) have expanded access to education beyond physical classrooms (UNESCO, 2022). At the same time, citizen journalism and user-generated content have bypassed traditional media gatekeepers, increasing diversity of voices but also accelerating the spread of unverified information.
The dark side of the Internet
Despite these benefits, the internet has also generated significant negative consequences. It has heightened risks related to data privacy, surveillance, cybercrime and financial fraud, while facilitating cyberbullying, harassment and the rapid spread of misinformation. Excessive internet use has been linked to mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression and addiction, and to reduced face-to-face social interaction (World Health Organization, 2021). These vulnerabilities are increasingly exploited by political actors seeking to manipulate digital spaces for power.
Political misuse
Globally, politicians have misused the internet to influence public opinion and undermine democratic processes. Coordinated disinformation campaigns, state-sponsored trolling and bot networks have been deployed to attack opponents, polarise societies and suppress dissent. Research by the Oxford Internet Institute found that by 2019, at least 59 countries had organised “cyber troops” using social media manipulation as a political strategy (Bradshaw & Howard, 2019). Surveillance, doxing and targeted online harassment—often directed at journalists, activists and women in politics—have further weakened democratic accountability.
Controlling information to misinform/disinform
Within this broader pattern of digital manipulation, politically motivated internet shutdowns have emerged as one of the most extreme tools of information control. Internet shutdowns involve the intentional disruption of internet or mobile services by state authorities, often justified under claims of national security, public order or combating misinformation. However, global evidence shows that shutdowns are frequently imposed during protests, elections and conflicts to suppress dissent and control narratives rather than to protect the public (Access Now, 2024).
When the Internet switch becomes a tool of manipulation for undemocratic African leaders
In 2024, a record 296 internet shutdowns were documented across 54 countries worldwide, marking the highest number ever recorded (Access Now, 2024). Africa has become one of the most affected regions. The continent experienced 21 shutdowns in 15 countries in 2024 alone, making it Africa’s worst year on record and part of a global escalation in digital repression (#KeepItOn Coalition, 2024). These shutdowns often coincided with elections, political protests, civil unrest or contested transitions of power.
Election-related shutdowns are particularly damaging because they directly interfere with democratic participation. Governments cut or restrict internet access to prevent opposition mobilisation, silence independent media and block the reporting of electoral irregularities.
In Uganda, authorities imposed nationwide shutdowns during the 2021 elections and again restricted connectivity ahead of the 2026 polls, actions condemned by civil society as violations of freedom of expression and the right to information (Human Rights Watch, 2026). Similar patterns have been observed in Senegal, Zimbabwe and Mozambique during periods of electoral tension (ISS, 2024).
Tanzania’s 29 October 2025 general election illustrates this trend. A nationwide internet outage on Election Day disrupted digital communication across the country, raising serious concerns about transparency and the ability of citizens, journalists and observers to monitor the vote. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights warned that restricting internet access during elections undermines citizens’ rights and weakens electoral credibility (ACHPR, 2025). In Ethiopia, repeated shutdowns—nearly 30 between 2016 and 2024—have coincided with elections, protests and military operations, making the country one of Africa’s most systematic users of internet blackouts (Access Now, 2024).
The counter-productive impact
Contrary to official claims, internet shutdowns often fuel disinformation rather than prevent it. By silencing independent media, fact-checkers and civil society, shutdowns create information vacuums in which rumours, fear and false narratives flourish unchecked. The Institute for Security Studies notes that shutdowns frequently backfire by increasing mistrust, confusion and reliance on informal information channels, while allowing state-controlled media to dominate public discourse without scrutiny (ISS, 2024).
The consequences extend beyond politics into economic and social life. Internet shutdowns cost the global economy nearly US$25 billion in 2022, with low- and middle-income countries suffering the greatest losses (Top10VPN, 2023). In sub-Saharan Africa, where mobile money, digital platforms and online services underpin large parts of the informal economy, shutdowns can be devastating. In 2024, shutdowns cost the region over US$1.6 billion, disrupting livelihoods, humanitarian coordination and remittance systems (Access Now, 2024). The Global System for Mobile Communications Association notes that mobile ecosystems supported 1.5 million jobs in sub-Saharan Africa in 2023, underscoring how digital disruptions directly threaten economic resilience (GSMA, 2024).
Shutdowns also deepen existing inequalities. Rural communities, refugees and women are disproportionately affected due to limited access to alternative communication channels. Studies in Uganda have shown that refugees and host communities experience severe social and economic disruptions during shutdowns, with women often bearing the greatest burden (UNHCR, 2023). These impacts undermine long-term development and social cohesion.
At the policy level, many African states are expanding cybersecurity and cybercrime laws that grant governments broader control over digital spaces. While framed as security measures, these laws often lack independent oversight and enable continuous monitoring and restriction of online expression, embedding more permanent forms of digital repression (CIPESA, 2025). At the same time, global technology companies exercise significant influence over political discourse through opaque algorithms and inconsistent moderation practices, raising further accountability concerns.
This contradiction is increasingly evident. Governments promote digital economies, e-government services and online entrepreneurship, yet weaponise connectivity when political power is threatened. As Internet Without Borders Executive Director Julie Owono argues, “You cannot fully embrace a digital economy while weaponising the very infrastructure it relies on” (Owono, cited in ISS Africa, 2025). This paradox erodes public trust, deters investment and weakens democratic institutions.
Conclusion
Ultimately, internet shutdowns are not merely technical disruptions; they are political acts that reshape societies and distort democratic choice. Treating internet access as a public good and a fundamental democratic right—on par with freedom of speech and assembly—is essential. Preventing a more disconnected future requires clear legal limits on shutdowns, independent oversight, transparency from telecom operators, and sustained pressure from civil society and citizens. Without these safeguards, internet shutdowns risk becoming a normalised disinformation tool—one that gags the people at the very moment their voices matter most.
References
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