Pakistan ranked first globally in economic losses from internet shutdowns, reporting $1.62 billion in losses for 2024. Top10VPN.com highlighted 18 significant shutdown instances impacting over 82 million users, primarily for reasons such as elections and protests. The report suggests a growing economic concern over internet censorship, stressing the need for digital access in promoting national stability.
In the past year, Pakistan has emerged as the nation with the highest economic losses resulting from internet shutdowns, totaling approximately $1.62 billion. This figure surpasses those of nations like Myanmar and Sudan, which are currently experiencing civil unrest. According to a report from Top10VPN.com, global internet disruptions amounted to 88,788 hours, leading to a cumulative financial loss of $7.69 billion worldwide.
The report, published recently, discusses the economic ramifications of intentional internet blackouts, social media limitations, and throttling imposed by authorities, occurring 167 times in 28 countries. Simon Migliano, head of research at Top10VPN.com, underscored the gravity of these deliberate outages, stating, “This kind of deliberate outage is internet censorship in its most extreme form… catastrophic acts of national economic self-sabotage.”
While the overall economic impact of internet disruptions decreased by 15.8 percent in 2024, the average duration of these outages increased by 12 percent compared to the previous year. In 2023, there were 196 shutdowns recorded in 25 countries, resulting in total losses of $9.01 billion.
Specifically, the study identified 18 instances of internet shutdowns in Pakistan, primarily linked to elections, information management, and civil protests during 2024. These interruptions totaled 9,735 hours and affected approximately 82.9 million users. Notably, the ongoing suspension of the social media platform X since February 18 has been deemed the most financially impactful, racking up an estimated cost of $1.34 billion. Furthermore, shutdowns in Balochistan in response to protests from the Baloch Yakjehti Committee resulted in a loss of approximately $11.8 million over 864 hours.
The calculations of these economic impacts rely on the Cost of Shutdown Tool (COST) developed by NetBlocks, which uses methodologies established by the Brookings Institution and CIPESA. The analysis considers GDP, the length of disruptions, and user impact to gauge the economic consequences of internet service outages.
Globally, various factors, such as conflict, government censorship, and civil unrest, have led to internet shutdowns. The Asia region was significantly affected, with Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and India standing out as the worst-hit countries in 2024. Beyond Pakistan, Myanmar’s prolonged shutdown resulted in a loss of $1.58 billion, while Sudan incurred costs amounting to $1.12 billion. Social media platforms such as X experienced the most outages, totaling 20,322 hours, followed by TikTok and other popular sites.
The report from Top10VPN.com sheds light on the dire consequences of intentional internet shutdowns, showcasing Pakistan as the leading nation in economic losses from such actions. Internet disruptions not only infringe upon citizens’ rights but also hinder economic progress significantly. The methodologies used for calculations underscore the relevance of understanding the implications of these shutdowns on a country’s economy, particularly in regions experiencing civil conflicts.
In summary, Pakistan has been identified as the nation with the highest economic detriment due to internet shutdowns, incurring losses of $1.62 billion last year. The report emphasizes the need for a closer examination of the economic impacts caused by governmental shutdowns, which can hinder societal progress and violate digital rights. Ensuring accessibility to the internet is essential for fostering economic stability and empowering citizens.
Original Source: www.dawn.com
