[Chapter-delegates] Internet Shutdowns

[Nkoro, N. E.]

Hello Glenn / All,

Thank you for raising this important issue. Unfortunately, the frequent
shutdown of the internet is becoming a recurring and deeply troubling
trend, with far-reaching consequences for society, communities, nations,
regions, and the global ecosystem. The increasing pace and normalization of
these shutdowns clearly call for urgent and sustained attention.

What is particularly concerning is that these actions are often initiated
or enforced by governments—one arm of the internet governance
multistakeholder system. As highlighted in the article *“Internet Shutdowns
Becoming Routine for Authoritarian Regimes, Panel Says,”* this trend
illustrates the significant autonomy governments currently exercise in
determining how, when, where, and by whom the internet is used. This
growing imbalance of power is alarming.

The critical question, therefore, is: *what can the other stakeholders
within the multistakeholder model—civil society, the private sector, the
technical community, and academia—do to restore balance and prevent
excessive or unilateral government control over the internet?* Addressing
this challenge requires a collective, collaborative, and principled
approach.

As aptly noted by *Elina Castillo Jimenez*, Advocacy and Policy
Advisor at *Amnesty
International*, governments often use internet shutdowns to achieve three
core objectives: *to conceal events, disrupt communication, and control
narratives*. The human rights, economic, and democratic costs of these
actions are profound.

This raises a fundamental concern: are we gradually accepting a reality in
which governments wield near-absolute control over the internet? If so,
does this not represent a serious threat to openness, accountability, and
the very principles upon which the global internet was built?

These are questions we must confront openly and urgently, before internet
shutdowns become an unquestioned norm rather than an exceptional and
contested measure.

Thanks.

Nkoro, N. E



On Sat, Apr 18, 2026 at 5:13 PM Glenn McKnight via Chapter-delegates <
chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org> wrote:

>
> https://broadbandbreakfast.com/internet-shutdowns-becoming-routine-for-authoritarian-regimes-panel-says/
>
> Glenn McKnight, MA
> Virtual School of Internet Governance
> Chief Information Officer
> www.virtualsig.org
> *YOUR SOURCE FOR INTERNET GOVERNANCE EDUCATION *
> *Mobile  437-237-4655*
>
> _______________________________________________
> As a Chapter Leader, you are automatically added to the Internet Society’s
> Chapter Leaders Community Group and the Chapter Delegates e-list, which is
> regularly synchronized with the Internet Society Chapter Portal (AMS):
> https://community.internetsociety.org.
> The Internet Society has a legitimate interest to communicate with its
> chapter leaders, you will therefore remain subscribed for the duration of
> your term and will be unsubscribed automatically when your term ends.
> Please note that the archive of this list is publicly accessible and may
> be viewed by anyone. By submitting information to this list and
> contributing to the communications, you acknowledge that the contents will
> be publicly visible.
> View the Internet Society Code of Conduct:
> https://www.internetsociety.org/become-a-member/code-of-conduct/
> -
> Unsubscribe:
> https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/9b6ef0621638436ab0a9b23cb0668b0b?The%20list%20to%20be%20unsubscribed%20from=Chapter-delegates
>


-- 

Best regards,
Nkoro, N. E.,
Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/profnkoro> | LinkedIn
<https://www.linkedin.com/in/nkoroessangnkoro/> | Instagram
<https://www.instagram.com/profnkoro> | Twitter
<https://www.twitter.com/profnkoro>
*The greatest happiness we could ever derived in life, depends on how well
we serve others for their satisfaction.*
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://elists.isoc.org/pipermail/chapter-delegates/attachments/20260418/3247259b/attachment.htm>