Ethiopia shut down the internet on Tuesday (May 30) ahead of a scheduled national examination that was due to take place in the country on Wednesday. Social media users noted that the internet service was interrupted from around 7 pm on Tuesday—reportedly to prevent exam leaks. (Google Transparency Report)This is not the first time the Horn of Africa nation shut down social media outlets to prevent exam leakages. Getachew Reda, the government spokesperson at the time, said the blockade was a “temporary measure” given that social networks served as “a distraction” to students. Algeria’s government also took similar steps to Ethiopia’s in June 2016, when it blocked social media networks in order to fight cheating in secondary school exams.

Source: Ethiopian News May 31, 2017 12:09 UTC