Azerbaijan blocks access to TikTok, Instagram, and X amid growing hijab protests

TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) have been restricted on multiple internet providers in Azerbaijan.

The digital blackout follows growing citizen protests over the regulation of hijabs in local schools.

Data from Surfshark reveals a 29% global increase in internet blackouts, with 81 new restrictions implemented across 21 countries last year Citizens in Azerbaijan are experiencing severe social media restrictions today as the government cracks down on digital communication amid escalating protests.

Internet monitor NetBlocks confirmed that access to TikTok, Instagram, and X has been blocked across multiple internet service providers in the country.

The incident comes as citizens protest the regulation of hijabs in local school s.

By restricting access to major social networks, authorities appear to be attempting to stifle the flow of information, making it difficult for protesters to organize and share on-the-ground footage with the rest of the world.

A growing history of digital censorship While this latest shutdown is alarming, it is not an isolated incident.

According to data from Surfshark's Internet Shutdown Tracker , this is the fourth restriction incident in Azerbaijan over the past six years.

Notably, this marks the first time an internet disruption in the country has been directly triggered by protests.

The previous three cases were tied to broader political turmoil, encompassing three service-based restrictions targeting social media and Voice over IP (VoIP) applications, as well as one regional network disruption.

This worsening track record places Azerbaijan 14th in Asia for internet restriction incidents.

According to Surfshark, this puts the nation alongside countries notorious for heavy-handed internet censorship, such as China, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

The global censorship epidemic The outage in Azerbaijan mirrors a devastating broader trend.

From Surfshark's 2025 global overview, it is clear that worldwide internet censorship is accelerating at a frightening pace.