In 2022, the worldwide suspension of internet services caused an economic loss of about $23.79 billion, as reported by Statista, a German online platform specializing in data gathering.
According to a research report by Statista from September 21, 2023, Russia faced the highest financial losses due to internet limitations, resulting in an economic impact of $21.59 billion. This affected approximately 113 million people in the country, with over 7,000 hours of restricted online services.
In Pakistan, the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics estimated the financial losses due to internet shutdowns at Rs1.3 billion ($46.56 million). The report highlighted that Myanmar had the longest internet service restriction, lasting 17,520 hours, while similar restrictions in India affected over 120 million people. The decline in internet freedom in 2022 was linked to political conflicts worldwide, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, where the Russian government intensified control over online content by restricting U.S.-based social media platforms.
In Iran, social protests increased following the death of Masha Amini in September 2022. The Iranian government responded by shutting down the internet and various social media platforms to minimize communication between protesters. Additionally, residents in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K) experienced the highest number of new internet restrictions, more than double that of Iran.
As of January 2024, India had the largest offline population globally, with over 683 million people without an internet connection. China ranked second, with around 336 million people not connected to the internet. According to a Statista report from February 5, 2024, almost four out of ten global internet users lacked essential freedoms on online platforms in 2022. There were 78 new restrictions on internet usage implemented worldwide, with Asia leading in imposing approximately 58 cases across various countries in the region.