Multiple targeted internet disruptions in Algeria amid mass-demonstrations

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The NetBlocks internet observatory has identified several regional internet disruptions across Algeria, as of Friday 22 February 2019, as the public have gone out to the streets to participate in protests.

Data indicate that multiple networks have been intermittently offline from 8:00PM UTC Thursday, affecting several regions in and around Algiers. Specific regional disruptions have been identified in Bordj Menaiel, Tizi Ouzou, and east of Chlef.

The internet disruptions come as an alliance of opposition political groups have been calling for the demonstrations to be held after prayers on Friday, following the withdrawal of several opposition parties from the presidential elections scheduled for April 18 2019.

On Thursday evening, foreign diplomatic missions issued alerts warning that demonstrations may take place throughout the country on Friday, February 22nd and Sunday, February 24th, 2019. Several users have corroborated the outages, also reporting problems with internet connectivity on previous days.

NetBlocks diffscans, which map the entire IP address space of a country, provide evidence of the scope and timing of the ongoing disruptions. Concerns have been raised over their impact on press freedom, freedom of expression and freedom of association and assembly.

Update: Disruptions have continued through the weekend in several regions which have held further protests:

 

 

Methodology

NetBlocks diffscans, which map the IP address space of a country in real time, show internet connectivity levels and corresponding outages. Purposeful internet outages generally have a distinct network pattern used by NetBlocks to determine and attribute the root cause of an outage, a process known as attribution which follows detection and classification stages.

NetBlocks is a civil society group working at the intersection of digital rights, cyber-security and internet governance. Independent and non-partisan, NetBlocks strives for an open and inclusive digital future for all.

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