Thread by @accessnow

This year, authorities have subjected thousands of people across MENA to internet shutdowns during national exams. #KeepItOn

Sudan, Algeria, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq all followed the same script played out repeatedly in recent years — here's what happened:
accessnow.org/empty-promises…

🇸🇩In Sudan, authorities have grown accustomed to using this tool of oppression, and telcos complied with the officials’ orders to disconnect people.

The internet was shut down on each exam day from 8:00 am — 11:00 am local time.

https://twitter.com/CloudflareRadar/status/1539594610640560128

🇩🇿In Algeria, despite promises to put an end to this practice, authorities blocked specific websites and applications, making 2022 the seventh year in a row they have interfered with the internet during exams.

maghrebactu.com/belabed-person…

🇯🇴In Jordan, authorities continued to block communication apps.

As @jo_osa explains, this practice is illegal. It directly conflicts with the country’s constitution, which prohibits stopping any means of communication without a judicial order:

josa.ngo/ar/blog/122/%D…

🇮🇶In Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government imposed internet blackouts for four-hours during final high school exams.

🇸🇾 In Syria, authorities also disrupted the internet during four exam periods in May and June, as well as three periods in August:

therecord.media/syria-schools-…

Shutdowns are not a proportional solution to cheating.

Repeated #InternetShutdowns violate human rights for all people, not just students.

If you have experienced an exam-related internet shutdown, please share your experience with us:

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…

These shutdowns disrupt not just education, but a wide array of daily activities. They keep people in the dark, and governments should turn to rights respecting measures to prevent cheating. #KeepItOn

Read more by @KassemMnejja and Zach Rosson:

accessnow.org/empty-promises…