Iraq cuts internet access after protests in Baghdad

Iraq has cut off internet access following mass protests in Baghdad and other cities. According to the NetBlocks service, by the evening of October 2, 75% of the country’s territory had gone offline.

Infographic twitter.com/netblocks

Protests over corruption and unemployment began in Iraq on October 1.

• In Baghdad, protesters tried to break into government buildings, police opened fire, and several people were injured.
• After this, Iraq blocked access to Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and other social networks and instant messengers.
• Iraq later began a nationwide internet blackout.

Access to the network remained in the north of the country, in Kurdish cities that are not subject to Baghdad’s regulation and were not affected by the restrictions.

The Bell talked about what happens to a country when the Internet is turned off, using the example of Indian Kashmir here .