Proton VPN Observatory (2023)

Social media restrictions - The Nepali government announced on November 13th that TikTok would be banned. The move comes after authorities issued a directive tightening content regulation on all social media sites.

Increase in Sign-ups in Azerbaijan following an offensive launched in Nagorno-Karabakh region with bombing raids hitting the regional capital of Stepanakert.

Sign-ups in Gabon continue to spike for a fourth day with daily sign-ups currently 25,000% above baseline. A clear cause has yet to be confirmed but it’s possible users are signing up ahead of the national elections on August 26, 2023.

Public protests and internet restrictions - Senegalese authorities restricted internet access, reportedly in response to violent protests following the arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. TikTok was subsequently blocked on August 2 coinciding with a second spike as protests continued.

Public protest and social media restrictions - In early June, social media platforms were restricted (including Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Telegram and more), reportedly due to political events in the country.

Presidential elections in Turkey - There was reportedly fear of potential censorship and internet shutdowns ahead of the presidential elections in the country.

Arrest of former Prime Minister and protests - On May 9, paramilitary troops found their way into a courthouse in Islamabad to arrest former Prime Minister Imran Khan after months of ongoing political turmoil in the country.

Internet censorship and social media platforms blocked - Ethiopian authorities have blocked people in the country from accessing selected social media platforms for months.

Criticism of disaster response - In the aftermath of the earthquake, access to Twitter was reportedly temporarily restricted by the Turkish government.