Beyond direct arrests, the Ethiopian government has increasingly employed sophisticated digital tools to silence dissent and control the press. During periods of civil unrest or political tension, the implementation of nationwide internet blackouts has become a common, blunt instrument. These shutdowns effectively strangle the free flow of information, cripple journalistic work, and isolate communities. Furthermore, the government has leveraged social media regulations and the threat of digital surveillance to monitor journalists, track their sources, and create an atmosphere of constant fear. Laws ostensibly designed to combat hate speech and disinformation are often wielded ambiguously to target and prosecute critical reporting.