The Dark Side of the Kill Switch: Inside 2025's Record-Breaking Internet Shutdowns

313 blackouts. 52 countries. One global crisis.Internet shutdowns are no longer just blunt nationwide blackouts. From Uganda to Iran, governments are now using sophisticated tools to cut off Starlink, exempt their own institutions, and silence critics—while ordinary citizens are left completely offline. In Iran, a blackout has now lasted 30 days, on track to become the longest complete internet shutdown ever recorded. So what can people actually do to fight back?The VPN paradox; why the UK wants to restrict teens from using a tool its own government relies on every single day.The UK government wants to restrict VPNs for teens, but it uses them itself. That's the paradox at the heart of a new investigation from TechRadar. The UK is consulting on "Growing Up in the Online World" – which could see consumer VPN apps face age-verification rules, making it harder for teenagers to bypass online checks. But here's the twist: multiple UK government departments and public bodies regularly purchase and use VPN services.  Sam Woodhams, VPN Managing Editor at TechRadar has been investigating.The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast--6924871/support.Production manager: Liz TuohyEditor: Ania Lichtarowicz  Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.🎥 Learn more about what we do: ➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/ 📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected] ➡️ Email: [email protected]   📱 Follow us on socials:➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) ➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co)➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)    If you like our show please rate and review us.