RelaySMS

ALT #NoExamShutdown: One step forward, another step back in 2026 Every year, governments across the Middle East and North Africa, and elsewhere, restrict internet access during exams to “prevent cheating,” leaving millions without connectivity, halting business activity, and disrupting daily life across entire countries. We have tracked this phenomenon for years and, with partners SMEX and the Internet Society, we launched the #NoExamShutdown campaign in 2023 to scale up efforts to end this dangerous and disproportionate practice. For the first time, this trend split in two very different directions. Swipe to see what changed. ▶️

ALT Syria: A break with the past? Syria imposed 11 nationwide exam-related shutdowns in 2025. In 2026, no exam-related shutdowns were reported during the exam period. This is the first time in at least a decade that Syria held national exams without such disruptions.

ALT In some countries, exam-related internet disruptions have become an annual pattern. Iraq: At least 34 disruptions were documented in 2026, marking the 11th consecutive year of exam-related shutdowns. Sudan: Authorities ordered 10 internet shutdowns during April exams, extending a six-year pattern amid the country’s devastating civil war. The cost extends far beyond the exam room.

ALT The picture isn't the same everywhere! While Algeria, a persistent offender over the past decade, took a small step in the right direction and restricted shutdowns to exam centers only, keeping the rest of the country connected, Tunisia joined the list of offenders for the first time.