Governments in Iran, Myanmar, Uganda, and Afghanistan use internet blackouts to suppress dissent, expand censorship, and surveil citizens, with Proton detecting rising VPN demand before shutdowns.

Governments in countries like Iran, Myanmar, Uganda, and Afghanistan are using internet blackouts not only to suppress dissent but also to expand censorship and surveillance, according to Proton, a Switzerland-based privacy company. The company’s VPN Observatory detects sharp spikes in demand for its services before major shutdowns—up to 1,000% in Iran—indicating anticipation of crackdowns. These outages, which disrupt economies and restrict access to information, are followed by upgrades to censorship infrastructure, including adoption of advanced systems like China’s “Great Firewall.” Authorities in some nations deploy fake VPNs, or “honeypots,” to identify activists, prompting Proton to develop stealth features disguising its app as everyday tools. The company warns that this growing use of internet control reflects a global “cat and mouse” struggle between state power and digital freedom.