Ethiopia completely blocked the internet this morning at around 7:30 a.m. UTC, 11 June 2019. The incident believed to occur as part of a countermeasure to prevent any part of the national exam leaking. Though the total internet blackout started Tuesday morning, messaging apps like that of Telegram have not been working since Monday June 10.
According to the ministry of education latest press release, students were caught trying to use messaging apps such as a telegram app to transfer exam answers.
Confirmed: Internet has been totally cut across #Ethiopia as an apparent measure intended to prevent cheating during national exams; incident ongoing #KeepItOn ?https://t.co/AZASjIdHLe pic.twitter.com/OT74L63I4J
— NetBlocks @ RightsCon (@netblocks) June 11, 2019
The total internet shutdown lasted for nearly six hours. Ethiopia Telecom has been not responsive to requests regarding the total internet outage, but this marks the third time that the government has blocked the internet for the national exam after the historic exam leakage of 2017.
