# Sustained censorship in AE (2026-05)

**Country:** 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates (AE)
**Date:** 2026-05-02
**Type:** Censorship
**Severity:** CRITICAL
**Status:** confirmed

## Summary

OONI detected 70 days of elevated network interference averaging 77.9% anomaly rate.

## Metrics

- Confidence: 80%
- Measurements: 70
- Anomaly Rate: 77.9%

## Evidence

- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 10/11 measurements anomalous (90.9%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-31
  - Confidence: 86%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-31&until=2026-05-31&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 3/3 measurements anomalous (100.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-31
  - Confidence: 90%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-31&until=2026-05-31&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 2/3 measurements anomalous (66.7%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-31
  - Confidence: 77%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-31&until=2026-05-31&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 5/5 measurements anomalous (100.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-31
  - Confidence: 90%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-31&until=2026-05-31&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 9/12 measurements anomalous (75.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-30
  - Confidence: 80%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-30&until=2026-05-30&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 8/10 measurements anomalous (80.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-30
  - Confidence: 82%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-30&until=2026-05-30&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI signal: 2/3 measurements anomalous (66.7%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-30
  - Confidence: 77%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=signal&since=2026-05-30&until=2026-05-30&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 3/3 measurements anomalous (100.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-30
  - Confidence: 90%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-30&until=2026-05-30&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 6/10 measurements anomalous (60.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-30
  - Confidence: 74%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-30&until=2026-05-30&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 8/11 measurements anomalous (72.7%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-29
  - Confidence: 79%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-29&until=2026-05-29&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 11/14 measurements anomalous (78.6%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-29
  - Confidence: 81%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-29&until=2026-05-29&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 6/6 measurements anomalous (100.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-29
  - Confidence: 90%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-29&until=2026-05-29&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 5/8 measurements anomalous (62.5%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-29
  - Confidence: 75%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-29&until=2026-05-29&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 7/14 measurements anomalous (50.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-28
  - Confidence: 70%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-28&until=2026-05-28&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 9/17 measurements anomalous (52.9%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-28
  - Confidence: 71%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-28&until=2026-05-28&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 6/8 measurements anomalous (75.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-28
  - Confidence: 80%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-28&until=2026-05-28&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 8/11 measurements anomalous (72.7%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-27
  - Confidence: 79%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-27&until=2026-05-27&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 13/13 measurements anomalous (100.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-27
  - Confidence: 90%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-27&until=2026-05-27&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI whatsapp: 5/9 measurements anomalous (55.6%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-27
  - Confidence: 72%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=whatsapp&since=2026-05-27&until=2026-05-27&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 7/8 measurements anomalous (87.5%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-27
  - Confidence: 85%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-27&until=2026-05-27&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 11/11 measurements anomalous (100.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-27
  - Confidence: 90%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-27&until=2026-05-27&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 5/6 measurements anomalous (83.3%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-26
  - Confidence: 83%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-26&until=2026-05-26&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 5/5 measurements anomalous (100.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-26
  - Confidence: 90%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-26&until=2026-05-26&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 5/5 measurements anomalous (100.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-26
  - Confidence: 90%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-26&until=2026-05-26&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 6/7 measurements anomalous (85.7%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-26
  - Confidence: 84%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-26&until=2026-05-26&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 10/10 measurements anomalous (100.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-25
  - Confidence: 90%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-25&until=2026-05-25&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 6/7 measurements anomalous (85.7%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-25
  - Confidence: 84%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-25&until=2026-05-25&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 8/8 measurements anomalous (100.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-25
  - Confidence: 90%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-25&until=2026-05-25&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 8/8 measurements anomalous (100.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-24
  - Confidence: 90%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-24&until=2026-05-24&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 4/5 measurements anomalous (80.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-24
  - Confidence: 82%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-24&until=2026-05-24&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 8/10 measurements anomalous (80.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-23
  - Confidence: 82%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-23&until=2026-05-23&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 3/6 measurements anomalous (50.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-23
  - Confidence: 70%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-23&until=2026-05-23&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 7/8 measurements anomalous (87.5%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-23
  - Confidence: 85%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-23&until=2026-05-23&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 8/10 measurements anomalous (80.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-23
  - Confidence: 82%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-23&until=2026-05-23&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 9/13 measurements anomalous (69.2%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-22
  - Confidence: 78%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-22&until=2026-05-22&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 5/5 measurements anomalous (100.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-22
  - Confidence: 90%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-22&until=2026-05-22&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 5/6 measurements anomalous (83.3%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-22
  - Confidence: 83%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-22&until=2026-05-22&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 6/6 measurements anomalous (100.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-21
  - Confidence: 90%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-21&until=2026-05-21&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 8/9 measurements anomalous (88.9%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-21
  - Confidence: 86%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-21&until=2026-05-21&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 1/1 measurements anomalous (100.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-21
  - Confidence: 90%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-21&until=2026-05-21&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 3/3 measurements anomalous (100.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-21
  - Confidence: 90%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-21&until=2026-05-21&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 5/6 measurements anomalous (83.3%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-20
  - Confidence: 83%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-20&until=2026-05-20&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 4/6 measurements anomalous (66.7%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-20
  - Confidence: 77%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-20&until=2026-05-20&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 5/8 measurements anomalous (62.5%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-20
  - Confidence: 75%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-20&until=2026-05-20&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI signal: 1/2 measurements anomalous (50.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-16
  - Confidence: 70%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=signal&since=2026-05-16&until=2026-05-16&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 7/7 measurements anomalous (100.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-15
  - Confidence: 90%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-15&until=2026-05-15&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 4/6 measurements anomalous (66.7%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-15
  - Confidence: 77%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-15&until=2026-05-15&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 6/8 measurements anomalous (75.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-15
  - Confidence: 80%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-15&until=2026-05-15&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 4/5 measurements anomalous (80.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-15
  - Confidence: 82%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-15&until=2026-05-15&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 8/12 measurements anomalous (66.7%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-14
  - Confidence: 77%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-14&until=2026-05-14&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 5/5 measurements anomalous (100.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-14
  - Confidence: 90%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-14&until=2026-05-14&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 3/4 measurements anomalous (75.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-13
  - Confidence: 80%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-13&until=2026-05-13&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 5/6 measurements anomalous (83.3%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-13
  - Confidence: 83%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-13&until=2026-05-13&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 3/6 measurements anomalous (50.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-11
  - Confidence: 70%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-11&until=2026-05-11&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 5/6 measurements anomalous (83.3%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-11
  - Confidence: 83%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-11&until=2026-05-11&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 3/4 measurements anomalous (75.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-11
  - Confidence: 80%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-11&until=2026-05-11&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 8/12 measurements anomalous (66.7%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-10
  - Confidence: 77%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-10&until=2026-05-10&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 6/9 measurements anomalous (66.7%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-10
  - Confidence: 77%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-10&until=2026-05-10&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 4/6 measurements anomalous (66.7%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-09
  - Confidence: 77%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-09&until=2026-05-09&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 4/5 measurements anomalous (80.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-09
  - Confidence: 82%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-09&until=2026-05-09&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 1/2 measurements anomalous (50.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-08
  - Confidence: 70%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-08&until=2026-05-08&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 4/7 measurements anomalous (57.1%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-08
  - Confidence: 73%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-08&until=2026-05-08&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 6/7 measurements anomalous (85.7%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-08
  - Confidence: 84%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-08&until=2026-05-08&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 8/9 measurements anomalous (88.9%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-07
  - Confidence: 86%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-07&until=2026-05-07&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 2/2 measurements anomalous (100.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-07
  - Confidence: 90%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-07&until=2026-05-07&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI signal: 3/6 measurements anomalous (50.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-04
  - Confidence: 70%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=signal&since=2026-05-04&until=2026-05-04&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 3/6 measurements anomalous (50.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-04
  - Confidence: 70%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-04&until=2026-05-04&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI signal: 1/2 measurements anomalous (50.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-04
  - Confidence: 70%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=signal&since=2026-05-04&until=2026-05-04&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI tor: 2/4 measurements anomalous (50.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-04
  - Confidence: 70%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=tor&since=2026-05-04&until=2026-05-04&only=anomalies)
- **OONI** (measurement): OONI signal: 2/4 measurements anomalous (50.0%)
  - Observed: 2026-05-02
  - Confidence: 70%
  - [OONI Explorer (independently verifiable)](https://explorer.ooni.org/search?probe_cc=AE&test_name=signal&since=2026-05-02&until=2026-05-02&only=anomalies)

## What we cannot say

- **Who caused it** — measurement data alone does not attribute the interference to any government, ISP, or other actor.
- **Intent** — anomalous or unreachable measurements indicate interference, not a stated motive or a deliberate-vs-incidental determination.
- **Which networks** — no specific ASN/ISP is identified for this incident.
- **Sub-national scope** — measurement is aggregated at the country level; we cannot localize to a province, city, or network segment.
- **Independent corroboration** — this rests on a single source; treat it as a single-source signal, not a multi-source confirmation.

## Data Sources

ooni

## Citation

Voidly Research. (2026). Sustained censorship in AE (2026-05) [AE-2026-0255]. Retrieved from https://voidly.ai/incident/AE-2026-0255

---
*Report generated by Voidly Research on 2026-06-21*
*Data licensed under CC BY 4.0*
*Incident ID: AE-2026-0255*
*Permalink: https://voidly.ai/incident/AE-2026-0255*