Note: This blog post originally appeared on the Internet Society Benin Chapter’s website here, in French. It has been translated and re-posted here with the permission of the Benin Chapter.
Internet shutdowns are rife today. The reasons often mentioned are the following: to prevent the spread of social unrest, to fight against the dissemination of false news and speech that incites hatred and revolt, and to preserve national security etc. Shutdowns intentionally disrupt access in regions or entire nations, preventing citizens, organizations and businesses from accessing information and services. But shutdowns are not without major consequences.
We firmly believe that Internet shutdowns are harmful and call on the government of Benin to keep the Internet open and accessible during the presidential election of April 11, 2021.
In 2020, Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition documented at least 155 internet shutdowns in 29 countries, including 10 in Africa.
In April 2019, in the midst of legislative elections, West African country Benin cut Internet access for almost 24 hours on election day – an unprecedented fact in a country known for its integrity and its democratic model. On April 11, 2021, the Beninese were called to the polls again, this time to elect a new leader.
The same causes calling for the same consequences, a coalition of Civil Society Organizations, including the Benin Chapter of the Internet Society, launched a digital campaign in early April and organized a conference-debate to raise awareness and prevent major risks that could cause possible disruption of the Internet. This proactive action aimed precisely to draw the attention of the government and society to the serious consequences of Internet shutdowns on the economy, education and society of a country in general and in the Internet/digital sector in particular.
Watch the recording of the Chapter’s conference-debate here via Facebook Live.
Internet shutdowns are intentional cuts of communication via the Internet by disrupting the network within a region or in an entire country. This is different from actions of Internet censorship or blocked services, applications and/or websites. An Internet shutdown presents several major risks ranging from disruption of the overall internet infrastructure to loss of trust in the network of networks.
An Internet shutdown can cause many problems for a country or state, including:
Given the risks and serious consequences that a possible shutdown of the Internet in Benin would cause on economically, socially, technically and diplomatically, we call on the government of Benin to keep the Internet open and accessible during the presidential election of April 11, 2021.
It is recommended that the Internet remains accessible to all to:
In light of the impact of Internet shutdowns on the fundamental rights of citizens, the economy and society as a whole, The Benin chapter of the Internet Society encourages the government of Benin to maintain full access to the Internet before, during and after the presidential election of April 11, 2021.
Pulse Note: Ultimately, Internet access in Benin was not disrupted during the national elections. We congratulate the Benin Chapter for their proactive work in making their local community aware of the negative impact that Internet Shutdowns can have on society and economy and thank the Benin government for not shutting down the Internet. #KeepItOn
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