This paper presents a spectrum approach in examining the issue of internet shutdowns. Using case studies from the African experience, the authors argue for a more nuanced approach and understanding of the cause, actors, and variations on internet shutdowns to better suit real-world modeling needs of security and censorship research. The paper first presents an overview of what defines an internet shutdown and common methods by which it is administered, specifically arguing for defining shutdowns on a spectrum. The authors then introduce elements of analysis such as frequency, duration, breadth, depth, etc. to formalize metrics of evaluation. Lastly, the paper crystalizes therotecial groundwork with case studies drawn from data collected by the European Research Council Project, specifically focusing on Zimbabwe and Chad.
