Will autocrats ever learn? - The Internet Blackout in Gambia

On December 1st, the West African country of The Gambia experienced an internet blackout just before its presidential election. This is not unprecedented as similar actions have been taken by other governments during elections to prevent monitoring and reporting of voting incidents or rumors from spreading. However, blocking internet access also prevents citizen reporting of election-related violence. In Gambia's case, the incumbent President Yahya Jammeh conceded defeat after the election results were announced, surprising many people including himself. The reasons for the internet blackout are not clear but it is possible that it may have infuriated voters and increased the vote against the president. Internet access has become a significant part of daily life for many Gambians, and blocking it can have unintended consequences. Cloudflare continues to fight for free speech online through encryption deployment and programs like Project Galileo. The company participates in events such as the UN's Internet Governance Forum (IGF) to promote policies that will make the internet more reliable and open.