How to Report an Internet Shutdown and Get Support

Updated 8 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Reporting an internet shutdown can help document what is happening, alert organizations that monitor connectivity, and connect affected people with practical support. Before you begin, make sure it is safe to communicate; collect only information you can verify and share without putting yourself or others at risk.

What You’ll Need

A safe way to send a report, such as a phone call, SMS, email, web form, or trusted person outside the affected area.
Basic facts: the affected area, when the disruption began, which services are affected, and whether it is ongoing or intermittent.
Any useful evidence you can safely gather, such as screenshots, error messages, or notes from direct observations. Do not put yourself in danger to obtain it.
A safe contact method if you want a responder to follow up. You may be able to report anonymously or omit identifying details.

Step-by-Step

Check immediate safety first. If communications are monitored or reporting could expose you, pause and seek a safer channel or a trusted intermediary. Do not use a device or account that another person can access if that could reveal your report. Avoid sharing names, precise locations, or sensitive details unless they are necessary and safe.
Describe the disruption precisely. Note the town, neighborhood, or broader area affected, using the least precise location that still helps responders. Record the date and approximate start time, including the time zone if known. Say whether access is fully unavailable, unusually slow, or restricted to particular services, and whether the issue affects mobile data, fixed broadband, calls, or messaging.
Separate what you observed from what you heard. For example, “mobile data has not connected on my phone since about 10:00” is a direct observation. Label reports from other people as unverified unless you can confirm them. A network problem can have several causes; avoid presenting a suspected cause or responsible party as established fact.
Check whether the problem is local to one device or connection. If safe, try a second device or a different connection, ask a trusted person nearby what they can access, or check whether calls and SMS work separately from internet data. Do not repeatedly reset equipment or change settings if doing so could erase useful evidence. Record what you tried and the results.
Preserve evidence without increasing risk. Save relevant screenshots, error messages, and timestamps. Keep original files where possible and avoid editing images in a way that removes context. Before forwarding material, check it for names, faces, phone numbers, message previews, precise location data, or other identifying details. Share only what is needed; metadata and screenshots can disclose more than expected.
Choose a suitable reporting channel. Look for a current reporting form, email address, hotline, or secure contact published by a reputable digital-rights, press-freedom, humanitarian, or connectivity-monitoring organization that works in the affected region. Use the organization’s official website or a trusted referral to verify the contact. Do not assume that every organization can restore service or provide emergency assistance.
Send a concise, factual report. Include what is affected, where, when it began, whether it continues, what you personally tested, and what evidence is available. State whether details are firsthand or secondhand. If you want help, say what you need—such as a referral, safety guidance, or help documenting the outage—and give a safe reply method. Ask how your information will be handled if that is not clear.
Seek urgent help through a channel that works. If someone faces immediate danger or needs essential assistance, use an available voice call, SMS, radio, landline, or trusted in-person contact, as appropriate and safe. Contact local emergency or humanitarian services where available. Do not wait for an outage-monitoring organization to respond to an emergency.
Keep a private record and follow up carefully. Save the date, channel, and any reference number. If there is no response, try another verified organization or channel when safe. Send updates when the situation changes, but avoid publicizing sensitive details or repeatedly contacting responders with the same report.

Common Mistakes

Guessing the cause: A shutdown, equipment failure, power cut, congestion, or account problem may look similar. Report symptoms and evidence, not an unconfirmed explanation.
Using vague timing or location: “Recently” or “the region” may be difficult to assess. Give a date, approximate time, and appropriately broad area.
Sharing identifying information publicly: Names, faces, phone numbers, and exact locations may put people at risk. Remove them unless there is a clear, safe reason to include them.
Assuming a report guarantees restoration or aid: Monitoring groups may document or refer a case but cannot necessarily change network access or provide direct services.
Forwarding unverified claims as fact: Clearly label what you saw yourself and what came from other sources.

Tips

Keep a short timeline in plain language, with dates and local times; note the time zone if known.
Use a trusted contact outside the affected area to submit information if your connection is unreliable or direct reporting is unsafe.
Ask before sharing another person’s testimony, screenshot, or contact details.
Use offline notes and save drafts if the connection is intermittent. Send small messages first rather than repeatedly attempting large uploads.
Follow the receiving organization’s instructions for sensitive evidence. Do not assume ordinary email or a public web form is confidential.

Troubleshooting

The report form will not load: Try a low-bandwidth text channel, email, SMS, or phone number listed by the organization. If possible, ask a trusted person with reliable access to relay the report. Avoid installing unfamiliar apps or opening links sent by unknown accounts.

You cannot tell whether it is a shutdown: Report the observed loss or disruption and say the cause is unknown. Compare more than one device or service only if doing so is safe, and note the results. A single device or provider issue does not prove a broader outage.

You are worried about being identified: Do not send details that identify you or others unless necessary. Ask whether anonymous or confidential reporting is possible, and confirm what the organization needs before sharing evidence. If no safe channel is available, wait or use a trusted intermediary.

No one responds: Check that the contact information comes from a current, trustworthy source, then try another appropriate organization. Keep the initial report and send a brief update rather than duplicating it across many public channels. For urgent needs, use a functioning emergency or support channel instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

What information should an internet shutdown report include?
Include the affected area, start time and date, services affected, current status, firsthand observations, and any safe evidence. Mark uncertain information clearly.

Can I report an outage anonymously?
Some organizations accept anonymous reports, but policies differ. Check the reporting instructions and avoid including details that could identify you in the report or attachments.

Should I report a slow or intermittent connection?
Yes, if it is a significant disruption. Describe whether service is slow, intermittent, or limited to particular services rather than calling it a complete shutdown.

Can reporting restore internet access?
Reporting can help establish a record and may support monitoring, advocacy, or referrals. It does not guarantee that service will be restored or that direct assistance is available.

What if I have no internet connection at all?
Use another safe channel, such as SMS, a voice call, radio, a landline, or a trusted intermediary. If none is available, write down the details and send them when a safe connection returns.

Is a screenshot enough evidence?
It can help, but add the time, location at an appropriate level, affected service, and what you observed. Check the image for personal details before sharing it.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.