Tag Archives: Internet

Internet Shutdowns Surge Worldwide, UN Warns Of Growing Threat To Rights

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Governments around the world are increasingly cutting off internet access during protests, elections and political crises, raising serious concerns about freedom of expression and democratic participation, according to the United Nations.

In a statement issued this week, UNESCO said internet shutdowns have reached alarming levels in recent years, warning that the trend threatens fundamental rights and the flow of reliable information.

Record Number Of Shutdowns

According to data cited by UNESCO from digital rights monitoring group Access Now, 2024 recorded the highest number of internet shutdowns since global tracking began in 2016.

The agency said the pattern has continued into 2026, with several countries already imposing widespread digital restrictions amid political unrest or electoral processes.

UNESCO stressed that access to information is closely tied to freedom of expression and other fundamental rights.

“Access to information is an integral part of the universal right to freedom of expression,” the agency said.

Reliable internet connectivity, it noted, also supports education, freedom of association and assembly, and participation in cultural, social and political life.

The UN body called on governments to prioritise policies that expand access to digital communication rather than restrict it.

Shutdowns Increase Risk Of Misinformation

UNESCO also warned that cutting off internet access can unintentionally fuel the spread of misinformation.

When journalists, news organisations and public authorities lose access to digital platforms, the availability of verified information declines sharply. In such environments, rumours and unverified content can spread rapidly.

Without reliable online communication channels, citizens may also struggle to obtain timely updates during emergencies or political events.

Protests And Elections Often Trigger Restrictions

Recent months have seen several high-profile cases of governments restricting internet access during periods of political tension.

In January 2026, authorities in Iran imposed a near-total nationwide internet blackout during renewed protests. Connectivity monitoring services reported internet traffic dropping to extremely low levels, disrupting businesses and limiting communication between citizens, journalists and civil society organisations.

Afghanistan also experienced a nationwide internet shutdown between September and October 2025 after the Taliban authorities ordered telecommunications networks to suspend services. The disruption affected humanitarian operations, media reporting and access to online education, particularly for women and girls.

In Nepal, authorities temporarily blocked access to 26 social media and messaging platforms in September 2025 during a period of political unrest.

Sri Lanka has also faced scrutiny after adopting legislation in 2024 that grants authorities broad powers to regulate and restrict online content.

Election-Related Restrictions In Africa

Internet disruptions linked to elections have also been reported across several African countries.

In Cameroon, connectivity was significantly disrupted during the presidential election held in October 2025. Around the same time, Tanzania imposed internet restrictions and partial shutdowns during its national polls.

Digital rights groups have criticised such measures, warning that limiting online communication during elections undermines transparency and restricts public debate.

Human Rights Concerns

Concerns about internet shutdowns have been raised previously by the UN human rights office.

A 2022 report from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights examined the global impact of such restrictions and concluded that shutdowns often violate international human rights standards.

The report found that blocking internet access can have far-reaching consequences beyond the intended targets.

In emergencies, for example, hospitals may struggle to contact doctors or coordinate care. Small businesses can lose access to customers and markets, while voters may be deprived of crucial information about candidates and election processes.

The report also highlighted the risks faced by protesters who may be unable to communicate or seek help during violent crackdowns.

Call For Responsible Digital Governance

Because internet shutdowns typically affect entire populations rather than specific individuals, the UN says they rarely meet international standards requiring measures to be lawful, necessary and proportionate.

Experts warn that such restrictions can widen digital inequalities, slow economic growth and undermine democratic institutions.

UNESCO is therefore urging governments to ensure that digital governance policies protect connectivity and uphold human rights.

As internet access becomes increasingly essential for daily life, the agency said safeguarding open and reliable digital networks will be critical for protecting democratic participation and social progress worldwide.

Internet for All? SpaceX just launched 60 satellites into space orbit, as part of its Starlink fleet

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On Wednesday, June 3 at 9:25 p.m. EDT, SpaceX launched its eighth Starlink mission aboard Falcon 9, which lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, just days after SpaceX and NASA made history amid coronavirus pandemic last weekend, launching two astronauts into space on board a Falcon 9 rocket to join the International Space Station (ISS).

Astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley were launched into space on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, marking the first time humans have been launched from the US since 2011.

Falcon 9’s first stage previously supported the Telstar 18 VANTAGE mission in September 2018, the Iridium-8 mission in January 2019, and two separate Starlink missions in May 2019 and in January 2020. Following stage separation, SpaceX landed Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

On this mission, SpaceX launched the first Starlink satellite with a deployable visor to block sunlight from hitting the brightest spots of the spacecraft. NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre said: “The goal of Starlink is to create a network that will help provide internet services to those who are not yet connected, and to provide reliable and affordable internet across the globe.”

Starlink Satellite

Explaining the Starlink satellite design, SpaceX said on its website that it was driven by the fact that they fly at a very low altitude compared to other commmunication satellites. “We do this to prioritize space traffic safety and to minimize the latency of the signal between the satellite and the users who are getting internet service from it. Because of the low altitude, drag is a major factor in the design.”

During orbit raise, the satellites must minimize their cross-sectional area relative to the wind, otherwise drag will cause them to fall out of orbit. High drag is a double-edged sword—it means that flying the satellites is tricky, but it also means that any satellites that are experiencing problems will de-orbit quickly and safely burn up in the atmosphere. This reduces the amount of orbital debris or “space junk” in orbit.

This low-drag and thrusting flight configuration resembles an open book, where the solar array is laid out flat in front of the vehicle. When Starlink satellites are orbit raising, they roll to a limited extent about the velocity vector for power generation, always keeping the cross sectional area minimized while keeping the antennas facing Earth enough to stay in contact with the ground stations, said SpaceX.

Shark-Fin orientation

When the satellites reach their operational orbit of 550 km, drag is still a factor—so any inoperable satellite will quickly decay—but the altitude control system is able to overcome this drag with the solar array raised above the satellite in a vertical orientation that we call “shark-fin.” This is the orientation in which the satellite spends the majority of its operational life.

A recent study, published in arXiv, researchers led by Stefano Gallozzi, wrote: “Depending on their altitude and surface reflectivity, their contribution to the sky brightness is not negligible for professional ground based observations. With the huge amount of about 50,000 new artificial satellites for telecommunications planned to be launched in Medium and Low Earth Orbit, the mean density of artificial objects will be of >1 satellite for square sky degree; this will inevitably harm professional astronomical images.”

Godless Virus May Have Affected 4 Lakh Android Phones in India: Trend Micro

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The new mobile malware "Godless" has affected nearly 4 lakh devices in India and about a million devices worldwide, said a report from cyber-security firm Trend Micro.

In the report titled "Mobile App Reputation Service", it said the "Godless" malicious software, found in all app stores including Google Play, hides inside an app and operates on the root of the operating system (OS), opening up the admin access to outside devices. "It contains various exploits to ensure it can root a device and it can even install spyware," said the report. It has been designed to exploit the Android devices in endless ways and those devices running on Android 5.1 (Lollipop) or earlier versions are vulnerable.

Once the "Godless" malware finishes its rooting, it cannot be uninstalled easily. "When downloading apps, users should always review the developer. Unknown developers with very little or no background information may be the source of these malicious apps.Users should also have secure mobile security that can mitigate mobile malware," said Nilesh Jain, Country Manager for India, Trend Micro.

According to Strategy Analytics, Google-owned Android dominated the global smartphone market since 2014 with 1 billion units shipped worldwide. It accounts for 81 percent of all smartphones shipped in 2014, followed by Apple with 15 percent market share and Microsoft with 3 percent at third.

“Many users choose Android over other OS-based devices because first, the devices can be relatively cheap; second, it’s known for fast and efficient data storage and third, it’s available across different form factors, brands, and price points," says Paul Oliveria, researcher of Trend Micro. Android is also popular among mobile developers and manufacturers for its capacity to house innovative app development without licensing fees, and sporting a simple and powerful Software Development Kit (SDK).

Here are some tips to keep Android Phones Safe and Secure:

Lock the screen – Enabling a screen unlock code will prevent a device thief from accessing your mobile data.

Protect your data – Android virtually comes with pre-installed security measures that can be easily accessed and enabled from the security submenu. The Android security screen also includes an option to encrypt the device. Enabling this option will help protect sensitive information stored in the device.

Strengthen passwords and app permissions – Google does a fine job at synching their updates with Android devices. However, some manufacturers take a little more time to update. Remember to check the features that you allow the app to access, and don’t forget to use strong and unique passwords. If you re-use your passwords, hackers can effortlessly guess the passwords on your other accounts.

Install a security app – It’s always a good idea to make use of security apps. An app that offers anti-theft features like remote wipe-out, tracking, and locking, as well as malware scanning and detection can help mitigate potential threats. For example, Trend Micro Mobile Security is a security app for Android phone and Android tablet, which blocks malicious apps from Google Play before they are installed; guards against identity theft and viruses; blocks dangerous and fraudulent websites; protects your privacy on Facebook; protects kids online; and even extends battery life and optimizes device performance and memory.

Connect to secure networks – Whenever you go online using a network you don’t know, such as public Wi-Fi, you should be more careful because unsecured Wi-Fi networks can be used to stage man-in-the-middle attacks where data can be intercepted by a third party. Avoid online banking, financials, and purchasing over public networks. If you use Wi-Fi at home, please make sure you use a password to secure your router.

Avoid rooting your device – Before rooting your Android device, consider the pros and cons first. While it allows you more control over your device, it could also allow unsigned apps, including malicious ones, access to your data. This also makes it difficult to patch and update your OS and apps, which could leave your device vulnerable.

Download from official app stores – Downloading from third-party sites or app stores is one of the easiest ways for any mobile device to get infected with malware. Limiting your apps to those from official or trusted app stores (like the Google Play app store) can lower the risks.