Gabon is taking an unprecedented step in Internet censorship

The Internet is a vital tool for education, work, socializing -- and, in some countries, for stifling citizen discontent. An unprecedented Internet blackout in the Central African country of Gabon is the latest in a trend of communication censorship.

On August 31, President Ali Bongo was reelected for a second term, a contested result that was followed by protests in which several people died. The Internet shut down completely for four days, according to Internet performance management company Dyn. And even after it was restored, there has been an "internet curfew" with connectivity being nonexistent between 6 pm and 6 am every day. Social media services including Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp remain entirely blocked at all times of the day. The government of Gabon publicly denied that it had blocked Internet access after the election.