June 20 (UPI) -- The Algerian government will shut down the Internet at certain times over the next week to prevent the nation's high school-age kids from cheating on exams, officials said.
The Internet blackout will affect mobile and computer access and go into effect for one hour after the exams are distributed in order to prevent leaking of questions.
The move was implemented after complaints of widespread cheating in 2016, when exam questions were leaked to social media.
This will be the third year in a row access to the Internet will be limited during exam time. An IT security officer told Middle East Eye this year "net censorship will be better coordinated and more effective" than in previous years.
"We have been under a lot of pressure from the authorities to install network monitoring and interconnection equipment to monitor the internet and, if necessary, disconnect the connection," he said
In addition to an Internet blackout, metal detectors have been installed at approximately 2,000 exam centers to intercept electronic devices with Internet access. Officials also set up surveillance cameras and cellphone jammers at the centers, BBC News reported.
