tech
February 21, 2026
The splinternet: how online shutdowns are getting cheaper and easier to impose
Iran has shown how plausible blackouts now are, with far-reaching consequences for the internet as we know it
TL;DR
- Countries like Iran, Russia, China, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Pakistan are implementing or experimenting with internet shutdowns and government-controlled networks.
- These "splinternets" restrict access to global information while allowing access to government-monitored local platforms.
- US funding for tools that circumvent censorship has decreased, while censorship technologies are becoming more advanced and exported.
- The decentralization of the internet makes it difficult to shut down completely, but nationalizing infrastructure can make it easier for governments.
- European nations are exploring notions of data and internet sovereignty, which could have unintended consequences if authoritarian regimes gain power.
- The future of a shared, accessible global internet is at stake, with implications for how information is accessed and shared worldwide.
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