Mehdi Jougi, a young Algerian working in digital marketing, is worried about Algeria’s upcoming high school exams, scheduled for June 9 to 13, 2024, and the expected internet blackout. During this period, authorities will cut off internet services nationwide to “prevent cheating.”
“Our work comes to a complete halt when the internet is cut off during the exam period. We rely on social media platforms and email to communicate with customers,” Jougi told SMEX. “Our e-commerce operations, which involve managing numerous virtual stores for various brands, suffer significant losses when the Internet is down.”
For the past eight years, Algerian authorities have imposed internet shutdowns to “prevent cheating” during the national baccalaureate exams.
Government restrictions on internet access began after exam questions were leaked in 2016. Photos of the exams were posted on social media minutes after being distributed to students.
No official statement has been issued this year to specify the timings of internet shutdowns so citizens can adapt to the disruption.
The Impact of Internet Shutdowns on Journalists
Internet shutdowns affect all segments of Algerian society who rely on the internet for communication, work, documentation, research, and even entertainment.
Journalists are particularly impacted by shutdowns. They interrupt their ability to research, write, communicate with sources, and send materials—all essential aspects of their work.
“The period of internet shutdowns during exams is the most difficult time of the year,” Zahra Rahmouni, an Algerian journalist who works with several digital platforms, told SMEX. “In earlier years, we could use a virtual private network (VPN), but this is no longer possible.”
Last October, the Algerian government decided to prohibit the use of VPNs unless they passed a regulatory and verification system established by the Regulatory Authority of Post and Electronic Communications (ARPCE).
Rahmouni and many of her colleagues have been forced to adjust their work styles and hours to accommodate the internet shutdowns imposed by the state during exam days.
“I complete tasks that don’t require the internet and posting online early in the morning,” Rahmouni said. “At night, I try to finish as much of my journalistic work as possible, which requires access to the internet, as a lot of information in Algeria is found exclusively on social media platforms like Facebook and X.”
The Algerian journalist views the decision to cut off the internet as “an extension of ongoing suppression throughout the year.” Rahmouni added: “Many news sites are blocked because their editorial lines don’t comply with the authorities, such as Radio M and the TSA website. Maghreb Emergent, an important and popular news source, is also blocked.”
Exam Shutdowns Disrupt Digital Work
The number of internet users in Algeria reached 33.49 million in early January 2024, according to a study published by DataReportal, a website that provides comprehensive reports and data on internet, social media, and digital trends worldwide.
The study shows that Facebook leads with 24.85 million users, followed by YouTube with 22.80 million, and Instagram with 11.40 million.
Internet shutdowns significantly impact content creators. “It is an unbearable week,” Moncef Ait Kaci, a very active Instagram user, told SMEX. “Cutting off the internet during baccalaureate exams negatively affects content creators in particular and all Algerians in general. The number of views and followers on my personal page decreases every time the internet is blocked because I can’t publish content.”
Rawnaq Nasri, a young Algerian communications consultant, described the shutdown period as “disastrous.” She told SMEX, “This situation forces me to completely reorganize my schedule according to the unstable internet connection and inform my clients of the new schedule. I am forced to take my online interviews and meetings by phone, which is less effective.”
“These outages continue practically throughout the day, especially during normal business hours,” Nasri added. “Even after reconnecting to the network, it is too late to plan and organize projects that often have strict and tight deadlines.”
Rahmouni told SMEX that Algeria’s annual policy of blocking the internet sparks discontent among many Algerians. They believe it damages the country’s credibility with the international community and causes constant embarrassment.
Rahmouni often works with foreign entities that do not understand why internet outages affect her ability to meet deadlines and fulfill commitments.
“This ineffective policy hasn’t benefited anyone. Instead, it has harmed everyone and failed to prevent cheating. The state’s inability to find alternative solutions leads to arbitrary decisions.”
She said she has found herself in very embarrassing situations that harmed her professional reputation, especially when attending meetings or handling breaking news.
“This policy disregards the interests of Algerians and shows a lack of respect,” she added. “It must be replaced as soon as possible with a thoughtful approach that does not harm the economy or the independence of professionals in Algeria.”
Damage and Criticism
Every year, Algeria faces heavy criticism for its Internet blocking policy from citizens as well as regional and international organizations concerned with digital rights, including SMEX and Access Now.
Kassem Mnejja, director of advocacy campaigns in the Middle East and North Africa at Access Now, told SMEX: “When the Algerian authorities block the internet, they fail to respect human rights.”
“Internet blocking operations cause immeasurable damage,” Mnejja added. Research has shown significant losses, estimated at about $20 million in Algeria alone in 2016, according to one report, and $388 million in damage to the national economy in 2020.”
Despite the challenges in accurately documenting the extent of the damage, the negative impact of internet shutdowns on the national economy is undeniable, with startups and citizens bearing the brunt of the costs, according to Mnejja.
Moreover, shutting down the internet does not prevent cheating. In 2021, the Algerian authorities accused 77 students of cheating, showing that exam leaks can occur despite shutdowns.
Although civil society organizations, activists, and many voices within Algeria have been calling for an end to this practice, it has continued annually for eight years, causing significant economic losses and harming Algerian society.
Given the proven ineffectiveness and harm of internet shutdowns, the Algerian authorities, along with other governments in the region, must seek more effective and less harmful alternatives. These could include improving oversight procedures inside examination halls and limiting the number of individuals who can access exam questions beforehand.
Image by AFP
