Internet services partially back to normal in Iraq despite renewed protests
An Iraqi protester gestures the V-sign during a demonstration at Tayaran square in Baghdad on October 2, 2019. (AFP)
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Internet services were partially back to normal in Iraq after several days of blackout due to ongoing anti-government protests, which entered their seventh day.
It’s unclear which of Iraqi districts restored the internet service, Sky TV channel reported.
Earlier on Wednesday, internet access was cut off across much of Iraq including the capital Baghdad with connectivity falling below 70%, internet blockage observatory NetBlocks said, amid renewed anti-government protests that turned violent and spread nationwide.
Social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, as well as messaging application WhatsApp all appeared to be have been disabled across Iraq except in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region which has a separate internet infrastructure.
The services were only accessible by using a VPN, which effectively disguises the location of a device.