2013 in Review: The Worrying Trend of Internet Shutdowns

"Prior to January 2011, national or regional Internet “blackouts” were mostly unheard of.  Although the Maldives, Nepal, Burma, and China all preceded Egypt with this innovation, it was the shutdown initiated by former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak that set a new precedent and garnered global media coverage.  Since then, Syria, Libya, and even San Francisco’s BART police have 'pulled a Mubarak.' But in 2013, Internet blackouts became de rigeur for embattled governments..."