News Highlight
According to a Global Internet Shut-Off report by Access Now and the KeepItOn coalition, India enforced as many as 84 internet shutdowns in 2022.
Key Takeaway
- In 2022, India imposed approximately 84 internet shutdowns.
- For the fifth year, it topped the list of countries that ordered internet shutdowns.
- ‘Weapons of control, shields of impunity: Internet shutdowns in 2022,’ according to the paper.
- Access Now and the Keeplton coalition released it.
- Protests, war, school examinations, and elections were all reasons for shutdowns.
Global Internet Shut-Off: Report highlights
- About
- The paper “Weapons of control, shields of impunity: Internet shutdowns in 2022”, was released by Access Now and the KeepItOn Coalition.
- According to the estimate, India will have 84 internet shutdowns in 2022 due to protests, disputes, school exams, and elections.
- According to the research, India topped the list of countries suffering internet outages for the sixth consecutive year.
- Indian Scenario
- The Internet was shut down 49 times in Jammu and Kashmir in 2022, the most of any state in the country.
- Rajasthan authorities ordered shutdowns on 12 occasions, followed by West Bengal authorities on seven occasions.
- Global Scenario
- In 2022, at least 187 internet shutdowns were observed across 35 nations.
- Thirty-three of these 35 countries has committed repeated offences.
- Ukraine ranks second with 22 internet shutdowns in 2022, followed by Iran with 18, and Myanmar ranks fourth with seven internet shutdowns.
- By March 2022, parts of Myanmar had been dark for more than 500 days.
- People in Tigray, Ethiopia, had been without communication for more than two years by the end of 2022, and many remained disconnected.
Internet Shutdown Provisions in India
- The Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017, are governed by the Indian Telegraph Act 1885.
- The 2017 Guidelines provide for temporarily closing telecom services in a region during a public emergency.
- And give senior Home Ministry bureaucrats at the central and state levels the authority to order shutdowns.
- The 1885 Act gives the national government the authority to regulate and licence all forms of telecom services, including internet services.
Impact of Internet Shutdowns
- Economic impact
- Internet shutdowns can cause significant economic losses, especially for firms that rely on the internet.
- Social impact
- Shutdowns influence residents’ capacity to interact with loved ones, obtain information, and exercise their right to free expression.
- It also violates democratic rights by restricting freedom of speech and expression, guaranteed by Article 19 of the Constitution.
- Political impact
- Governments frequently utilise internet shutdowns to suppress dissent, restrict information, and limit political opposition.
- Psychological impact
- Internet outages can create worry, anxiety, and mental health problems.
- Particularly for individuals who rely on the internet for a living or to stay in touch with family and friends.
- Educational Setbacks
- Internet shutdowns can impede educational activity, particularly for pupils relying on online learning resources.
- Legal implications
- Shutdowns can also have legal consequences because they may infringe on fundamental rights provided by the Indian Constitution and international human rights legislation.
UN’s Key Recommendations
- To states
- Governments should avoid implementing the whole spectrum of Internet shutdowns.
- Any Internet shutdowns must be:
- Grounded in specific, publicly available law.
- Necessary to achieve a legitimate aim.
- Proportional to the legitimate aim.
- To Companies
- Strengthen involvement and collaboration with all stakeholders involved in preventing and reversing communication disruption.
- To regional organisations and international organisations
- When creating and implementing Internet connection cooperation programmes, ensure that the hazards of Internet shutdowns are considered.
- To civil society
- Reinforce your efforts to avoid, detect, research, and respond to internet outages.
Way Forward
- International organisations like the UN can pressure governments that shut down the internet to respect human rights and keep the internet open and accessible.
- Governments can enact laws and regulations to preserve citizens’ internet access rights and prevent arbitrary shutdowns.
- When the internet goes down, technological alternatives such as mesh networks and satellite communication can be employed to give alternative internet connectivity.
Pic Courtesy: Business Today
Content Source: Indian Express