Bangladesh has enforced a countrywide shutdown of WhatsApp, Instagram, and YouTube
Overview of the Ban
The government of Bangladesh surprisingly announces countrywide banning of some of the most popular social media applications, thereby involving WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok are temporary ban in Bangladesh. Such a huge decision made public on the 2nd of August, 2024, is targeted at restricting access to these platforms being hugely used by millions across the country. The Bangladesh government’s move replicates a similar ban slapped on Instagram by Turkey, also on the same day a clear indication of a regional trend aimed at tightening digital restrictions.
Background of Internet Restrictions
This is not the first instance of the Bangladeshi government taking such steps against the social media platforms. Only last month, authorities in July briefly took away access to Meta’s platforms, Instagram and Facebook, amid countrywide violence and protests against quota reforms in educational institutions of . Those earlier restrictions were part of a more general attempt at controlling the flow of information and preventing mobilization among demonstrators.
It hosts over 120 million mobile network users. Therefore, this ban is almost bound to have huge ramifications. The restriction to these major channels of communication is likely to push a lot of users onto virtual private networks, which could further slow the overall Internet speeds and be circumventing these bans.
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