Heather Flanagan examines internet fragmentation through the lens of modern internet shutdowns. Using recent, well-documented cases, she explains how connectivity is selectively constrained and why shutdowns are no longer rare emergencies but predictable outcomes of network architecture and governance.

Discover how these shutdowns directly impact digital identity systems, from federation failures to lost auditability. Learn why treating the network as neutral and always available is increasingly risky, and why architects, policymakers, and identity teams must rethink assumptions about global interoperability and resilience.