An Internet outage, Internet blackout, Internet shutdown or Internet drought is the complete or partial failure of the internet services. It can occur due to censorship, cyberattacks, disasters, police or security services actions, or errors. Disruptions of submarine communications cables may cause blackouts or slowdowns to large areas. Countries with a less developed Internet infrastructure are more vulnerable due to small numbers of high-capacity links. A line of research finds that the Internet with it having a "hub-like" core structure that makes it robust to random losses of nodes but also fragile to targeted attacks on key components − the highly connected nodes or "hubs". As of 2026 the longest nationwide internet shutdown in history has been the 2026 Internet blackout in Iran.
Types
Government blackout
A government internet blackout is the deliberate shut down of civilian internet access by a government for a small area or many large areas of its country. Such a shut down is typically used as a means of information control in a brief period of upheaval or transition. In autocracies, internet shutdowns have appeared especially in the context of contested elections and post-electoral violence. Governments have also imposed internet shutdowns in the context of armed conflict, natural disasters, and school examinations. Shutdowns can impede the ability of protesters or insurgent forces to mobilize and organize. It also serves to prevent real-time information access for foreign people or entities. Reactions from leaders, journalists, observers and others in foreign countries can be delayed.
Most internet shutdowns, implemented by governments, occur in India. According to a 2022 study, (1) rather than a centrally coordinated, top-down campaign from the central government, India’s 28 state governments are largely responsible for the issuing of shutdowns, and (2) the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is both directly and indirectly responsible for many of India’s shutdowns. BJP-run state governments issue more shutdowns than non-BJP states, primarily to suppress protest (the direct responsibility), while the party’s polarizing rhetoric and policies, coupled with the BJP-built limited regulatory framework governing the issuance of shutdowns, contribute to an environment in which the shutdowns can thrive (the indirect responsibility). Confirming these arguments, my quantitative analyses (2012–2020) reveal that districts in BJP-ruled states experience significantly more internet shutdowns (primarily in response to protests), while Hindu-Muslim conflict triggers internet shutdowns all across the country.
Military blackout The temporary disconnection of civilian internet access by military forces is an important aspect of information warfare. This tactic is common today, and is often used in concert with a ground invasion by conventional forces. It could also be used in advance of an airstrike campaign.
Weather or natural disaster Extreme weather events and natural disasters can lead to internet outages by either directly destroying local ICT infrastructure or indirectly damaging the local electricity grid. The Monash IP Observatory and KASPR Datahaus have tracked the impact of Hurricane Florence 2018, Cyclone Fani 2018, and Hurricane Laura in 2020.
Solar storms Solar superstorms could cause large-scale global months-long Internet outages. Researchers have described potential mitigation measures and exceptions – such as user-powered mesh networks, related peer-to-peer applications and new protocols – and the robustness of the current Internet infrastructure.
Cyberattacks
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks
These attacks flood a website or network with traffic from multiple sources, overwhelming the server and making it unavailable to users.
Routing attacks These attacks target the infrastructure of the internet, specifically the routing systems that direct traffic between different networks. By manipulating or disrupting these systems, attackers can cause widespread outages.
Malware Malicious software can infect and damage computer systems and networks, leading to internet outages.
Botnets A botnet is a network of compromised computers that are controlled by an attacker. These computers can be used to launch DDoS attacks, spread malware, or perform other malicious actions that can cause internet outages.
Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Hijacking Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is used to route traffic on the internet. BGP hijacking is a form of cyber-attack where an attacker alters the routing information in BGP, causing internet traffic to be directed to the wrong place.
Accidents
Natural disasters Floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters can damage internet infrastructure, causing outages.
Power failures Internet service providers (ISPs) rely on electricity to power their networks, so power failures can cause outages.
Human error Accidents caused by human error, such as a construction crew cutting through a fiber-optic cable, can cause internet outages.
Equipment failure The failure of equipment such as servers, routers, and switches can cause internet outages.
Maintenance Scheduled maintenance or unexpected repairs on the internet infrastructure can cause outages.
Weather condition Inclement weather such as heavy snow, thunderstorm, and heavy rain can cause outages by damaging the infrastructure or making it difficult for maintenance crews to access and repair the network.
Measurement A variety of organizations measure internet shutdowns including the Open Observatory of Network Interference, Access Now, Freedom House, the Digital Society Project (using the V-Dem Institute methodology and infrastructure), the OpenNet Initiative, the University of Michigan's Censored Planet Observatory, the Internet Censorship Lab, and the Monash IP Observatory. These organizations use a range of methods to detect shutdowns such as expert analysis, remote sensing, and remote sensing with oversight. Some of these organizations, such as Access Now, maintain active lists of internet shutdowns.
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