Internet in Syria: A Fragile Connection

• Syria is navigating a fragile transition following the December 2024 fall of Bashar al-Assad, with internet access remaining severely limited by infrastructure damage, high costs, and political instability.
• The internet has become a double-edged sword, serving as both a crucial communication tool and a catalyst for misinformation, hate speech, and physical conflict.
• Digital safety and freedom of expression are under pressure from government surveillance, reliance on foreign infrastructure, and the continued abuse of repressive cyber-crime laws.

Infrastructure and Accessibility Challenges

• By the end of 2025, only one-third of the population had internet access, with connectivity quality ranked among the lowest globally.
• Persistent issues include destroyed cell towers, copper and fiber optic cable theft, and severe power shortages.
• Internet costs consume 11% to 20% of the minimum wage, leaving 90% of the population below the poverty line effectively excluded.
• The transition government has asserted control over major private providers, MTN and Syriatel, to monitor digital services and revenue.

Sovereignty and Foreign Dependency

• Approximately 90% of Syrian cable internet relies on Turkish infrastructure, a strategic vulnerability given Turkey’s history of blocking access and conducting phishing attacks during military operations.
• To reduce this dependency, the government has authorized the $800 million 'SilkLink' project, involving a Saudi firm, to establish connections via Cyprus and Jordan.

Weaponization of the Internet

• During the July 2025 escalation in Sweida, a sudden week-long internet and communication blackout prevented residents from navigating safe escape routes or receiving warnings.
• Experts view the synchronized failure of independent networks as a deliberate, centrally managed tactic to suppress information during civil unrest.

Misinformation and Digital Threats

• Journalists like Ahmad Primo are fighting a surge in disinformation using AI-powered fact-checking bots via 'Verify-SY' to prevent inter-communal violence.
• Women activists report a rise in targeted harassment, including threats of sexual violence and doxxing, with minimal government intervention.
• The state continues to use the 2012 Cybercrime Law—a legacy of the Assad regime—to silence critics; activist Hassan Akkad was arrested in June 2026 under these provisions for satire.