The Cloudflare Blog: Shutdown season: the Q2 2025 Internet disruption summary

Source URL: https://blog.cloudflare.com/q2-2025-internet-disruption-summary/
Source: The Cloudflare Blog
Title: Shutdown season: the Q2 2025 Internet disruption summary

Feedly Summary: In Q2 2025, we observed Internet disruptions around the world resulting from government-directed shutdowns, power outages, cable damage, a cyberattack, and technical problems.

AI Summary and Description: Yes

**Summary:** The text provides an overview of significant Internet disruptions observed by Cloudflare during the second quarter of 2025, including government-directed shutdowns in various countries and the impact of power outages on connectivity. This is particularly relevant for professionals in cloud computing and security, highlighting the fragility of internet infrastructure and the compliance implications of government interference.

**Detailed Description:**

The text outlines an analysis by Cloudflare regarding significant internet disruptions that transpired across various nations during the second quarter of 2025. It highlights the interplay between power outages and internet connectivity, as well as the ramifications of government directives to shut down internet services.

Key points of the text include:

– **Government-Directed Shutdowns:** The text details instances where the government enacted internet shutdowns due to public protests or to prevent cheating during examinations.
– *Libya*: Significant drops in traffic were observed in response to protests.
– *Iran*: Various shutdowns occurred following geopolitical tensions, affecting multiple network providers.
– *Iraq and Syria*: Consistent internet shutdowns were implemented for exam-related reasons, raising concerns about educational integrity and public safety.
– *Panama*: A strategic shutdown was enacted amidst civil unrest.

– **Impact of Power Outages on Internet Connectivity:** The text illustrates how power outages can directly lead to significant disruptions in internet service.
– *Spain and Portugal*: A massive power outage on April 28 resulted in drops averaging 50% in internet traffic.
– *Other Countries*: Various incidents across the globe, including the Maldives and North Macedonia, also showcased the correlation between power stability and internet operations.

– **Technical Problems and Cyberattacks:** The report mentions disruptions caused by technical failures and cyberattacks that can bring down internet services.
– Notably, a DDoS attack on a Russian provider led to a multi-day outage.

– **Unexplained Disruptions:** Some outages resulted in substantial traffic losses without any clear explanation, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of the internet’s infrastructure.

– **Cloudflare Radar’s Role:** The monitoring capabilities of Cloudflare Radar are underscored, indicating their commitment to analyzing and reporting on internet disruptions. They offer insights for stakeholders regarding resilience and risk management.

This overview of outages has practical implications for professionals in the fields of cloud computing and security:
– **Proactive Risk Management:** Awareness of the types of disruptions and their causes can inform better risk management and contingency planning.
– **Legal and Compliance Considerations:** Understanding local regulations on internet usage and shutdowns is critical for compliance, particularly for businesses operating in multiple jurisdictions.
– **Infrastructure Investment:** Insights into infrastructure weaknesses may drive investments in more resilient systems and contingency plans to mitigate service disruptions.

Overall, the text serves as a significant resource for professionals aiming to enhance infrastructure security and compliance in an era where digital connectivity is paramount yet increasingly vulnerable.