Law
Internet Shutdowns as a Violation of Freedom of Expression
Quick fact
The United Nations Human Rights Committee has stated that the right to freedom of expression includes the right to access and use the internet, making blanket internet shutdowns a disproportionate interference that violates Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Why this is interesting
Imagine your government one day blocking all internet access across the country to quell a protest. You can't check news, communicate, or share information. Is that legal? International human rights law says it might be a violation—read on to see why.